Stimulus funds for clean energy largely unspent

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0218/Stimulus-funds-for-clean-energy-largely-unspent

Stimulus funds for clean energy largely unspent

Only 63,000 of the jobs directly created or saved by the stimulus bill last year were clean-energy jobs. That number should rise, economists say.

By Mark Clayton Staff writer / February 18, 2010

Making a “tremendous down payment on the clean energy transformation” of the United States was a top priority of the Obama administration’s economic stimulus package – but, despite some notable accomplishments, it remains mostly a promise at this point.

...

Overall, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus bill, has seen $263 billion spent of the $787 billion available by the end of last year. As a result, the US economy is now employing about 1.5 million to 2 million more workers, the President's Council of Economic Advisors recently reported – and other independent economists agree.

But so far, just one-third of the roughly $90 billion ($60.7 billion in direct spending and $29.5 billion in tax incentives) targeting the clean-energy sector has actually hit the street – to fund wind-farm development, solar plants, battery factories, high-speed rail, and home weatherization, among many other projects.

As a result, just 63,000 of the jobs directly created or saved by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by the end of last year were clean-energy jobs, the president's economic council reports.

...

[Chemisse]

1. Why?

It seems like Obama comes out and says really great things, then recedes and little happens. So here is the money, the goal is an excellent one, and yet it is not happening!

[conscious evolution]

2. I have been researching clean energy funding lately

The main reason so little has been spent is because the funding requires massive spending on the part of the entities applying for the funds.
For instance-There are grants available for small farmers and ranchers to install pv and wind generated systems.However,the grants only cover 25% of the costs of the system.The other 75% must come from the farmer or rancher.Problem is, most small farmers and ranchers do not have the 75% to buy a system.The federal grants are also not available if the farmer can get grants from other sources.
Stuff like that pretty much puts a damper on them investing in a renewable system.
There are also grants available to utility companies to fund energy audits in homes and business.Very few utilitys are applying for them though.IMO,they are not applying because they would loose revenue if people were not wasting money on energy loses.
To me,its looking like this so called 'stimulus'funding is just smoke and mirrors created to give the illusion that something is being done.

[Chemisse]

3. Ahhh, thank-you.

I can see why that would dampen enthusiasm.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Washington stalemate blocks job-creating investment in green energy

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sc-dc-energy-invest17-20100217,0,1409553.story

Washington stalemate blocks job-creating investment in green energy

Washington DC Bureau
February 17, 2010 | 2:32 p.m.

New Jersey's largest utility, PSEG, has already picked the location for a wind farm 16 miles off the state's coastline. Energy giant NextEra is looking to double its $2 billion investment in wind nationwide.

At a time when the U.S. economy is desperate for jobs and investment in future growth, economists and business leaders say these projects -- and billions of dollars in other investments in so-called "clean energy" -- are on hold in large part because of political stalemate in Washington.

With President Obama's energy and climate proposals apparently bottled up in Congress, business leaders say they cannot tell what direction government policy will take on issues ranging from new energy taxes and tougher emissions standards for plants and vehicles to guaranteed markets for start-up wind and solar power plants.

"It's one thing to manage risk," said Ralph Izzo, PSEG's president and chief executive office. "It's another thing to gamble. We're not gamblers. And we're therefore a bit paralyzed." And the logjam in the United States stands in sharp contrast with the situation in other countries that are major competitors now and into the foreseeable future -- especially China and the European Union.

...

[European Socialist]

4. No wonder why I don't have solar panels.

Only a few states have good programs for lower income people.