On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package last Tuesday, and with over $30 billion devoted to green energy measures, the act serves as a critical step in making energy efficiency the nation’s top priority.

“Energy efficiency is a winner for the nation on so many levels,” commented Brad Penney with the Alliance to Save Energy. “The stimulus law’s $20-plus billion for energy efficiency projects will put Americans to work making buildings more efficient; cut energy bills for consumers, businesses, and governments; and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Together with provisions for renewable energy and clean transportation, energy efficiency allocations promise to help put the nation back on track.
Provisions include:

• $6.3 billion for energy efficiency and conservation grants.
• $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program to upgrade modest-income homes. The act will also increase the eligible income level under the program and increase funding assistance to $6,500 per home, including homes weatherized as recently as 1994.
• $4.5 billion for the repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency using green technology
• $6 billion for new loan guarantees aimed at standard renewable projects such as wind or solar projects and for electricity transmission projects.
• $11 billion for smart-grid related activities, including work to modernize the electric grid and smart grid grants.
• $1 billion for energy efficiency programs including smart and energy efficient appliances, alternative fuel trucks and buses, and transportation charging infrastructure.
• $4 billion to the public housing capital fund to enable local public housing agencies to address a $32 billion backlog in capital needs, especially those improving energy efficiency.
• $500 million to help workers train for green jobs.
• Tax incentives: About $20 billion for renewable energy and energy efficiency over 10 years including extended tax credits for wind and other renewable energy sources. The solar provisions in the bill are expected to help create 60,000 jobs in the solar industry in 2009 alone and a total of 110,000 jobs in the next two years.

Much of the stimulus will be channeled through the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), resulting in a nearly tenfold increase in EERE funding from 2008. Californians have already experienced some of the benefits of energy efficiency and clean energy measures, including increased dollar savings at home and burgeoning job opportunities in local communities. The new stimulus acts as an affirmation of this success and reminds us that we must continue to do more.

• Related: “Green Energy Projects Promise to Create Three Times as Many Jobs as Fossil Fuel Investments,” (e-Newswire, 2/03/09)
• Related: “Green Innovation Index Highlights California’s Energy-Efficient Economy,” (e-Newswire, 1/28/09)
• Carl Reese Construction Santa Clarita, CA
  Certified NACHI© Home Inspector • EnergyStar© Partner • Certified Mold Remediation & Testing • Certified Thermographer • Energy Consultant • Licensed General Contractor #B878946