Markey: Interior, Energy Dept. Budgets Reflect America’s Priorities to Increase Jobs, Protect Environment

WASHINGTON (February 13, 2012) - The Obama administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 and beyond includes key provisions that will protect our parks and forests and increase the amount of clean energy produced here in the United States, creating jobs, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and protecting our environment.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee today praised President Obama for his continued dedication to clean energy, public lands, and the environment.

"This budget protects America's natural heritage while promoting a clean energy future," said Rep. Markey. "Protecting our public parks and forests will bring tourism dollars from people who want to visit our natural wonders. Promoting clean energy will keep jobs at home as we invent the next generation of energy technologies. This budget supports both of those efforts.

"I know some presidential candidates have said they don't understand why we have national parks, forests, and wilderness areas, but the American people and President Obama do. They are economic drivers for local communities and a reminder of our heritage as a country," continued Rep. Markey.

Among the top budget provisions included in the Interior Department's budget are:

Following a report issued by the Natural Resources Committee Democratic Staff [LINK], the 2013 budget includes a new priority goal for onshore oil and gas drilling to ensure taxpayers are receiving the revenues they are owed and that operations are safe and environmentally responsible. The BLM budget includes a proposal to shift the costs of onshore oil and gas inspections from the taxpayers to the industry.
$87 million for activities related to renewable energy development on public lands, an increase of $15 million-or 18 percent-over 2012. This will help achieve the Interior Department goal of permitting more than 12,500 megawatts of wind, solar, and geothermal power on public lands by 2013. At the end of the Bush administration, there was only 1,876 megawatts of such renewable projects permitted on public lands.
$700,000 increase to support baseline environmental characterization and monitoring following the BP spill.
An increase of nearly $25 million for offshore safety and environmental enforcement programs, partially funded through a $3 million increase in offshore inspection fees.
The U.S. Geological Survey budget includes an increase of $13 million to support scientific inquiry related to hydraulic fracturing.
$74.9 million for the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) Program, an increase of $19.8 million. The program allows the USGS and Reclamation to partner with local stakeholders through basin studies and grants to manage our water resources in the face of drought and climate change.
An increase of $43.8 million in the budget request for the Strengthening Tribal Nations initiative that improves public safety and education on tribal lands.

Among the top energy provisions in the Department of Energy's budget and tax provisions related to energy are:

$2.3 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a $527 million increase (29 percent) over 2012 levels. This includes:
- $420 million for vehicle technologies, a $91 million increase (28 percent)
- $310 million for building technologies, a $91 million increase (41 percent)
- $310 million for solar, a $21 million increase (7 percent)
- $65 million for geothermal, a $27 million increase (72 percent)
- $270 million for biomass and biorefineries, a $71 million increase (36 percent)
- $95 million for wind, a $2 million increase (2 percent)
- The creation of a new $175 million program to support advanced energy-efficient manufacturing processes and materials technologies.
- $350 million for DOE's ARPA-E advanced energy research program, a $70 million increase over 2012.
- Ending 12 tax breaks which largely benefit the biggest oil, gas and coal companies, saving $41 billion over ten years.
- An extension of the Production Tax Credit that, if allowed to lapse by Congressional Republicans, could result in the loss of 37,000 wind energy jobs.
- $5 billion for advanced energy manufacturing tax credits to ensure that the clean energy deployed in America is also made in America.
- Extension of the 1603 renewable energy grant program, which, before it expired at the end of 2011, supported more than 200,000 American jobs.