Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities

Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Biden's budget blueprint prioritizes climate and renewable energy
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Tuesday, March 12, 2024
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. @POTUS ([link removed])

The Biden administration on Monday unveiled a $7.3 trillion Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal ([link removed]) to fund the federal government.

While the proposal is not expected to be enacted as written, it highlights the Biden administration’s policy priorities for the final year of his first term. In particular, the spending proposal requests a boost in funding for the federal agencies tasked with implementing projects to expand renewable energy development and combat climate change ([link removed]) , including the Interior department, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It also takes aim at federal subsidies for the oil and gas industry.

The Interior department budget request ([link removed]) calls for $17.8 billion in order to advance Interior’s mission “through investments in wildfire management, tribal programs, ecosystem restoration, national park operations, western water infrastructure, and climate resilience.” Notably, Interior’s budget request includes allocating $189 million toward deploying renewable energy on public lands and waters. “The intensifying impacts of climate change are costing lives, disrupting livelihoods, and causing billions of dollars in damages,” the budget summary states ([link removed]) .

Analysis: Chaco mineral withdrawal is protecting wildlife and ecosystems

On June 2, 2023, the Biden administration formalized a mineral withdrawal ([link removed]) within a 10-mile radius around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico to remove more than 336,400 acres from oil, gas, and mining development. A new Center for American Progress analysis ([link removed]) finds that in addition to protecting the area’s cultural and archaeological values, the mineral withdrawal is also protecting more than 60,000 acres of New Mexico’s highest-value ecological resources ([link removed]) and helping to protect wildlife. According to the analysis this includes more than 31,000 acres of the state’s most ecologically intact lands
([link removed]) , those that are free of human modification and resembling their natural, untouched state, with minimal habitat and species loss. Similarly, the withdrawal area also includes 27,000 acres which support species migrations ([link removed]) by protecting migratory pathways for big game such as mule deer, elk, and pronghorn.


** Quick hits
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Colorado River Basin states pitch two alternative plans for water cuts

Nevada Current ([link removed]) | Land Desk ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed])

Biden's budget blueprint prioritizes climate and renewable energy

E&E News ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) [Interior budget request] | White House Fact Sheet ([link removed])

Colorado could bring back wolverines in unprecedented rewilding effort

The Guardian ([link removed])

BLM's Public Lands Rule aims to balance, transform the agency's stewardship

Arizona Public Media ([link removed])

Bears Ears plan prioritizes Tribal collaboration, conservation

E&E News ([link removed])

New research exposes anti-conservation groups' lies and industry ties

Accountable.US ([link removed])

Oregon forestry officials approve plan to reduce logging on state lands

OPB ([link removed])

Opinion: Ash Meadows should be cared for, cherished, and protected from mining

Nevada Current ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” National wildlife refuges are super-important, as the only national public lands organized around the needs of wildlife, yet funding from Congress is already nowhere near what is needed to manage the refuges or even keep up with the cost of living.”

—Mike Leahy, senior director of wildlife, hunting and fishing policy with the National Wildlife Federation, E&E News ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@Interior ([link removed])
Happy Birthday, @BureauIndAffrs ([link removed]) !

At 200 years old, the BIA is the oldest bureau at Interior. BIA employees are working every day across the country to strengthen our nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes and invest in Indigenous communities.

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