The support for numerous climate change programs at multiple agencies included in President Obama's proposed 2011 budget was seen as signaling Obama's continued commitment to the issue, ClimateWire reported. The funding included $171 million for climate adaptation programs at Interior and $56 million for EPA to develop climate rules.
Environmentalists praised the substantial funding increases from 2010 levels. The $25 million offered to aid state air regulators in processing GHG emissions permit applications was seen as particularly important, with Bill Becker, head of a national association of state regulators, calling it "sorely needed" funding.
Former EPA air head Jeff Holmstead questioned whether the $25 million would significantly ease the permitting issues that would arise under a program of GHG emissions limits. Holmstead was quoted as saying: "If in fact CO2 permitting begins this year, I don't know there is an amount of money that would ease that transition."
