Cleantech Provisions: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009

President Obama will sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law today. The massive $787 billion bill supports national strategies in efficiency and renewable energy, smart grid, transmission, advanced vehicles, and many other aspects of the environment and climate change. The final economic recovery package invests $92 billion in cleantech, including $32.80 billion in clean energy, $26.86 billion in energy efficiency, and $18.95 billion in green transportation. That’s less than the House Bill ($100 billion) but more than the Senate bill ($86 billion). We’re happy the $50 billion in guarantees for nuclear and liquid coal was removed from the Bill. The Alliance to Save Energy estimates the energy efficiency measures alone can create over 100,000 green jobs over the next two years and, over the life of the measures, reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 200 million metric tons. They commend Congress for extending, expanding, and simplifying federal income tax credits for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements and for breaking new ground on utility regulatory reform and stronger energy building codes. "This is a bold first step in moving our nation from the ‘dark ages’ of excessive energy use, in which we currently are […]

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