Obama Signs Stimulus Packed With Clean Energy Provisions

By Kate Galbraith
ObamaThe Associated Press President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden tour the roof of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with Blake Jones, president of a Colorado solar company, ahead of signing an economic stimulus package loaded with clean-energy incentives.

President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package today, and the clean energy industry — among the biggest winners — is celebrating.

The signing ceremony was heavily loaded with solar symbolism: Mr. Obama signed the bill after touring the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which has solar panels on its roof. He was also introduced by Blake Jones, head of Namaste Solar Electric, a Colorado company that installed solar panels on the governor’s mansion there.

(As of this writing, the company’s Web site appears to have crashed, perhaps under the weight of the attention.)

“It’s an investment that will double the amount of renewable energy produced over the next three years,” said Mr. Obama, who also promised that the bill would help “transform the way we use energy.”

The text of the bill is posted by the House Appropriations Committee here. This detailed summary is particularly helpful.

The provisions include:

* A large sum for energy efficiency, including $5 billion for low-income weatherization programs; over $6 billion in grants for state and local governments; and several billion to modernize federal buildings, with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency.

* $11 billion for “smart grid” investments.

* $3.4 billion for carbon capture and sequestration demonstration projects (otherwise known as “clean coal”).

* $2 billion for research into batteries for electric cars.

* $500 million to help workers train for “green jobs.”

* A three-year extension of the “production tax credit” for wind energy (as well as a tax credit extension for biomass, geothermal, landfill gas and some hydropower projects).

* The option, available to many developers, of turning their tax credits into direct cash, with the government underwriting 30 percent of a project’s cost.

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Ken Smith February 17, 2009 · 5:16 pm

This is a critical component to maintaining the renewable energy momentum. Americans are known for their short-attention span. We give Presidents, new ball players, and new companies an initial grace period during which to prove their value, but we get quickly turned off when results do not materialize quickly. Think of how quickly we turn on a home run hitter who keeps striking out in critical games, or companies and products that promise we will all be smarter, taller, thinner, and better looking overnight only to look in the mirror a month later and find it’s the ’same old me’ staring back.

Read the whole Post at: //www.buildbabybuild.net/blog/renewable-energy-industry-needs-to-show-results-soon/

Mim February 17, 2009 · 7:07 pm

Who is overseeing these projects and money? Now, the big 3 auto makers wants billions of dollars again. When is enough going to be enough. Let them sink or swim.

Richard February 17, 2009 · 7:23 pm

Sounds like the start of a plan to me! And it only costs the equivalent of a couple months in Iraq!
I’m sure that it’s someplace else, but the only mention of research was for batteries. Of course, a program that is supposed to pay off in three years might have to be weighted toward immediate applications of existing technology, but we also need to put some heavy cash into well-directed national programs to go after the sticking points. We all know what those sticking points are, whether in coal, nuclear, wind, solar or whatever. We still have, I think, most of the people we need to do breakthrough work, but they’ve been too underfunded for too long, and these days, industry is not stepping up to the plate. It ain’t gonna get done with dinky NSF or agency grants. It’s Manhattan Project time, folks. Pick a goal, collar the right people, relieve them of the petty responsibilities of the academic or industrial world, get the resources to them, and crowd them into critical mass. I think we can, do you?

Derek February 17, 2009 · 9:07 pm

I agree with 3-Richard above: we can’t run out the clock on our energy and environmental problems with frivolous funding, we need to make a serious effort out of this. Now that big-government no longer seems to be such a bete-noire, I think it’s the time for a WPA-like program to supplement existing projects and encourage new directions. This would at least, for example, provide employment for large numbers of technicians and workers to install solar panels, weatherize homes, install water meters, plant trees (NOTE: A LITTLE-KNOWN FACT IS THAT MATURE TREES ARE FARE MORE EFFICIENT AT PROCESSING CO2 THAN JUVENILES, so preserving an existing forest is more effective than simply planting a new stand of saplings)

And what is this $3.4 billion package for clean coal? I believe Bush actually cancelled federal funding for the flagship clean-coal test center because of inefficiency and gross budget overruns. This is particularly bothersome and ill-considered because only $2 billion was allotted for vehicle battery research; I think an emphasis should be made on mass-transit and on advancing our current technologies. Clean coal, conversely, is just a stop-gap measure of dubious effectiveness.

stop killing wilderness! February 17, 2009 · 10:16 pm

The question is – are WE allowed to turn our 30% tax credit into cash, or is it true that every time ratepayer-generators look like they are closing a small part of the ENORMOUS chasm in government largess shown towards Big Energy, everyone races to make sure Big Energy is compensated even more?

So, let’s see. We ratepayer-generators who should be the sole solution to the energy, environmental and property value crises are not allowed feed in tariffs, government loans, rebates for oversized systems that feed clean energy into the grid, and aren’t even allowed to have a voice in the Energy debate because we don’t bribe – excuse me “lobby” – our elected officials.

Meanwhile, Big Energy gets to permanently destroy millions of acres of OUR land, gets to force us from our homes “for the public good,” gets to charge back 112% of its expenses in running huge, unneeded transmission lines to ratepayers, gets to charge back 100% of its expenses for killing our wilderness with giant power plants (solar takes 10 acres/MW and wind takes 50 acres/mw) plus gets power buyback guarantees and price floors, and in the case of CSP and geothermal, gets to deplete our groundwater resources for private profits.

Gee, why am I not on board with this sick version of the Renewable Revolution? Why are people slavering to create the New Robber Barons of Big Solar and Big Wind so we can be under their thumbs for the foreseeable future when we could ALL be generators of clean power?

Jon February 17, 2009 · 11:16 pm

I’m sure Obama is legitimately doing what is required of him based on the current situation. If that’s the case, one has to wonder whether he’ll be forced to do the exact same thing two years from now and send more troops to Iraq following a withdrawal. For more check out //www.TalkObama.info

CJohnson February 18, 2009 · 3:45 pm

Did I understand correctly> Was Namaste Company Obamas’ top pick for a model company? Has he not heard of the 20th Century Motor Company?

Wendell Lee February 18, 2009 · 11:41 pm

What is wrong with people in this country? Why are we so blinded by the dogma of what public officials tell you that you should follow. To move money into solar research and funding is STUPID. Solar is guaranteed NOT to work at least 50% of the time. That’s not an estimate, that’s a fact.
Would you buy a car that was guaranteed not to start 50% of the time? Would you hire a company that only showed up 50% of the time? I have submitted my idea to Mr. Steven Chu of an idea that will work 100% of the time. Will he listen to me since I am not a large company on a noted scholar? I hope he does otherwise we will throw away billions of dollars on technology that DOES NOT WORK.

Robb Henshaw February 21, 2009 · 10:39 am

It’s great to see such a commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency in this stimulus package. It’s also interesting to see how many of the areas receiving funding open up huge opportunities for the energy monitoring market. The grants for smart grid, HUD, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block,State Energy Programs, transmission systems upgrades, GSA, and many more — all of these initiatives will require open energy monitoring platforms that can ensure maximum efficiency and performance across all renewable energy systems. Technologies from companies like Fat Spaniel Technologies — //www.fatspaniel.com — that provide open platforms that can monitor all renewable energy systems using one central console will likely become a key/required component for ensuring that the systems paid for by the stimulus grants are operating as optimally as possible, while also providing max energy efficiency.

These technologies are essential for ensuring the cost-effectiveness of the systems deployed, and providing oversight and accountability. Especially in this economy, it’s not enough to just deploy “green” technology and use renewable energy — you need to oversee those systems and get the most of them. We must combine eco responsibility with fiscal responsibility.

Fat Spaniel was the first open energy monitoring platform on the market, and already monitors over 2,000 energy systems in 15 countries. Our platform enables the integration of many different vendors’ hardware devices – such as inverters, solar modules, wind turbines, environmental sensors, combiner boxes – into the intelligent energy management infrastructure. So, regardless of the hardware components organizations choose to use for their renewable energy initiatives, they can rest assured that they’ll have one single platform to manage everything, giving them a holistic view of their systems to ensure that everything is operating optimally. If you’d like to learn more or have any questions, please visit us at //www.fatspaniel.com. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have.

Amber February 23, 2009 · 8:44 am

I like this plan in general. I really think if we start using green energy, our country will be a healthier and more flourishing country.

jeremiah February 23, 2009 · 1:32 pm

Which of the following does not belong:

-Considerate burglar
-Sweet bully
-Clean coal
-Good crime

Trick question. None of them exist, and it’s time to call out “clean coal” for what it is. A Quixotic mis-step, enabled by coal lobbyists.

john March 12, 2009 · 10:35 am

I need some help and an answer. How many dollars have been spent on our current energy infrastructure in the USA?A few trillion? To replace what we have now,is the first step and the best way to proceed must be decided upon soon.

Dan March 23, 2009 · 12:45 pm

There are definitely two sides to whether this is good for us or not.
One key that is probably more readily available than any other is wind. The best reason is that wind is always available and won’t run out! The initial cost is still high at this time but in the long term it will definitely pay for itself.
Perhaps another alternative would be for smaller wind-generators placed at individuals homes to supply their own needs rather than depending on the electric company.

//geniesavesyoumoney.com

Dan

Andy May 4, 2009 · 2:46 pm

Some great provisions here and as discussed ( //www.savingtoinvest.com/2009/05/green-energy-home-and-auto-tax-crdits.html ) makes the move towards solar panelling for new home owners much more enticing. This is laying the foundation for a much cleaner and more energy efficient future.

Ted Berner May 20, 2009 · 10:13 am

apparently utility companies have not used this stimulus money yet. Design firms in the utility industry are shedding workers at an unprecedented rate because they have NO WORK coming from utility companies.

Those companies don’t have the processes in place to account for every stimulus dollar spent, so they’re not going to touch that money until that is resolved.

In the meantime, prople are losing their jobs in droves, and this drought will spread to construction companies, equipment and building supply providers, etc.

It’s hard to stimulate something when its GONE. They better get off their keesters and get the ball rolling. This is serious.

Brian May 28, 2009 · 11:52 am

This is great to hear. The more incentives there are for solar the cheaper it becomes for everyone.
Many countries are going down this path and have started offering major incentives. Ontario recently announced a Feed In tariff program and other provinces are considering following.

Companies such as NowSolar (nowsolar.ca) and their summer of solar program (//www.summerofsolar.com) are taking advantage of these new incentives and growing quickly. Their programs are well designed for homeowners and helping install solar systems more efficiently. I believe many of these types of companies and programs will appear in the near future as incentives increase.

Brian May 28, 2009 · 11:53 am

This is great to hear. The more incentives there are for solar the cheaper it becomes for everyone.
Many countries are going down this path and have started offering major incentives. Ontario recently announced a Feed In tariff program and other provinces are considering following.

Companies such as NowSolar //www.nowsolar.ca)and their summer of solar program //www.summerofsolar.com are taking advantage of these new incentives and growing quickly. Their programs are well designed for homeowners and helping install solar systems more efficiently. I believe many of these types of companies and programs will appear in the near future as incentives increase.

Chuck Egg June 26, 2009 · 10:26 pm

I think it is fantastic how we are using renewable energy and going green in so many ways. I think we also need to do things like reducing our energy usage, like installing geothermal heat pumps to replace high energy heating and cooling systems. Here is an example of how geothermal works. //geothermalexperts.net/residential_systems.html

shannon October 20, 2009 · 3:54 pm

I think this is a great a idea to get more independant of other country resources.

Brad October 23, 2009 · 2:14 am

“President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package today, and the clean energy industry — among the biggest winners — is celebrating.”

There is only $2.5 billion being allocated for clean energy research. How exactly does that qualify as a big winner? That is .3% of the stimulus going towards the cause. There are a lot of provisions for energy efficiency, which is also important, but with 1% of our energy needs being supplied by solar and wind you would think they would be a higher priority.

Rob.b November 3, 2009 · 2:19 am

That is a very good and wise step, towards energy conservation. This will inspire other countries to follow the steps. There are some companies in my country also that are helping spread awareness on the use of Solar Panels, like this company,
//www.todae.com.au/SolarPanels/SolarPanels

katie DiBenedetto January 9, 2010 · 12:11 pm

anyone know where to get the full list of winners of the tax credit?

jack January 15, 2010 · 11:57 am

While Obama has had his missteps during his short presidency so far, this is not one of them. Cleaning up this country and its carbon footprint needs to happen and happen as soon as possible. Solar energy works. Period. It is completely false that it works 50% of the time. Sunlight is conserved even if the sun is not out.

Global Solar Center is a New York based Solar power company with outlets all over the country. They give free quotes on your home and make it affordable to become greener. To learn more log onto globalsolarcenter.com