Obama Administration FY 2016 Budget Proposal: Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate

The Obama administration's FY 2016 budget proposal requests significant funding increases for clean energy, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Key highlights include a $29.9 billion request for the Department of Energy, a $94.7 billion request for the Department of Transportation, and the creation of a $4 billion Clean Power Plan Incentive Fund. The budget emphasizes a transition to a low-carbon economy through investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, and the modernization of transportation networks.

• The FY 2016 budget proposal requests $7.4 billion for clean energy technology programs across multiple agencies, including the DOE, DOD, NSF, and USDA. It also proposes a $4 billion Clean Power Plan Incentive Fund to encourage states to exceed minimum carbon reduction requirements and $1.29 billion for the Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI) to support international climate efforts.
• The Department of Energy (DOE) budget request is $29.9 billion, a 9 percent increase over FY 2015. This includes a 42 percent increase for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to $2.7 billion, and an 84 percent increase for the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability to $270 million. The budget also allocates $325 million for ARPA-E and establishes a new $11 million loan guarantee program for tribal energy.
• Within the DOE's EERE, significant funding increases are proposed for several programs: Solar Energy (44 percent increase to nearly $336 million), Wind Energy (36 percent increase to $145 million), Geothermal Technologies (75 percent increase to $96 million), and Vehicle Technologies (59 percent increase to $444 million). The Advanced Manufacturing program would see a 102 percent increase to $404 million to fund two new Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.
• The Department of Transportation (DOT) requests $94.7 billion, a 31 percent increase from 2015. This includes a proposed six-year surface transportation reauthorization funded by federal fuels taxes and a 14 percent mandatory tax on $2 trillion of corporate earnings held overseas. Key allocations include $51.3 billion for the Federal Highway Administration (including a $7.5 billion 'Fix-it-First' program) and $18.4 billion for the Federal Transit Administration.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget request is $8.6 billion, with $1.11 billion dedicated to climate change and air quality. This includes $214 million for the Clean Power Plan and other regulatory programs. Additionally, the budget proposes $14 million for the Environmental Justice program, representing a 107 percent increase over FY 2015.
• The Department of Agriculture (USDA) budget focuses on conservation and climate resilience, with $6.3 billion for Farm Bill conservation programs. It proposes a new $855 million emergency disaster fund to treat catastrophic fire as a natural disaster, noting that fire suppression costs grew from 13 percent of the agency's budget in the 1990s to over 50 percent in 2014.
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposes a budget of $49.3 billion. It includes a policy change allowing Public Housing Authorities with over 250 units to use operating reserves for capital expenditures to incentivize energy conservation. HUD also allocated $14.2 billion of $15.2 billion received for Hurricane Sandy response.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2015). Obama Administration FY 2016 Budget Proposal: Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate. https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Budget_020415.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Obama Administration FY 2016 Budget Proposal: Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate. 2015. https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Budget_020415.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Obama Administration FY 2016 Budget Proposal: Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate |date=February 2015 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Budget_020415.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2015obama, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Obama Administration FY 2016 Budget Proposal: Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Budget_020415.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }