Biden budget calls for action on conservation, renewables, climate

Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Wind turbines near Palm Springs, California | Bureau of Land Management

On Friday, the Biden administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2022. The plan calls for a 16.7% increase in funding for the Interior Department, including boosts for conservation, renewable energy, climate mitigation, and tribal land management. Notably, the plan also calls for an increase in funding to mitigate and fight wildfires ahead of what is expected to be an active fire season.

In addition to boosting funding for renewables on public lands, the budget also calls for dramatically increasing spending to permit new offshore wind development. “We are also looking at how to diversify energy sources so we can better adapt to demands of global markets,” said Laura Daniel-Davis, principal deputy assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals management.

Conservation organizations welcomed the plan, noting the stark difference with proposals by the Trump administration to reduce funding for the Interior Department while expanding drilling and mining. "This budget proposal shows President Biden is serious about conserving America’s public lands for future generations while transforming America to a renewable energy economy," said Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala. "Congress should use this budget proposal as a blueprint for how to invest in public lands and the outdoors, and also take urgent action to address the climate crisis.”

 

Quick hits

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Opinion: Why we should be turning former mines into trails

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Quote of the day
The reality is: the industry is locking up nearly two million acres of land in Utah with unused oil and gas sites. All the while, the West is in the throes of the worst drought our region has ever suffered — fueled by climate disruption exacerbated by fossil fuel emissions. Sixty-eight percent of Utahns support limiting new fossil fuel leasing on public lands because we have seen the consequences of excessive extraction and also recognize the massive potential of our clean energy future.”
Carly Ferro, director of the Sierra Club's Utah Chapter
Picture this

@Interior

As the weather warms, wildflowers will sweep the higher elevations, adding a pop of color to places like @BLMNational's Pine Forest Range Wilderness in Nevada.
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