Economic recovery bill
invests $80 billion in clean energy and green transportation projects
Madison, WI – The U.S. House of
Representatives seized an opportunity to repower America and rebuild the
economy by making bold investments in clean energy and energy efficiency
through the economic recovery bill passed 244 to 188 this evening, according to
Wisconsin Environment.
“With this
economic recovery package, Congress took the first step down the road to a new
clean energy economy for Wisconsin and America,” said Wisconsin Environment
Director Dan Kohler. “This bill will deliver
more secure energy in the long term; less global warming pollution; fewer
asthma attacks from air pollution; more clean lakes and rivers for drinking
water, swimming and fishing, and more good jobs right here at home.”
The
“American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” includes at least $37.9 billion for
energy efficiency, $27.8 billion for renewable energy and $14.6 billion for
public transit and clean transportation, for a total of $80 billion in clean
energy funding. Wisconsin Environment
applauded members of Congress who voted for the package and for capturing an
enormous opportunity to prevent pollution, save oil, and create more jobs by
adopting an amendment by Representative Nadler (D-NY) to increase public
transit funding by $3 billion.
America’s
transportation sector is responsible for one third of the nation’s global
warming pollution and 60 percent of oil consumption. Funding for public
transit, which creates one third less pollution than comparable passenger car
travel, yields 19 percent more jobs per dollar than building new highways. With the Nadler amendment, the bill includes
$13 billion for transit capital funds, more efficient buses, and pressing
transit improvements that would save more than 12 million barrels of oil per
year and generate at least 521,000 jobs.
The bill
dramatically expands federal funding for state- and city-directed
weatherization programs. According to
Wisconsin Environment’s analysis of the bill’s provisions on energy efficiency,
the $6.2 billion investment in the Weatherization Assistance Program will
reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 12 million tons, create 465,000 new jobs
over two years and meet President Obama’s goal of weatherizing two million
homes.
In addition
to extending clean energy tax credits for three years, the bill makes an
adjustment to the renewable energy production tax credits that Wisconsin
Environment estimates will create or sustain 254,000 quality jobs such as in
engineering, installation, construction and maintenance. The bill allows new or struggling renewable
energy companies with no profit or tax liability to apply to the Department of
Energy for grants in place of the tax credits they cannot use. “By extending the clean energy tax credits
and making them recession proof, Congress is helping keep an industry that
prevented 79 million tons of global warming pollution in 2007 on track,”
explained Kohler.
“Through the
clean energy and green infrastructure investments in this economic recovery
package, we can make a down payment on solving global warming while delivering
the economic boost we need,” concluded Kohler. “Wisconsin Environment thanks Governor
Doyle for his role supporting investments in Wisconsin’s clean energy economy,
and we commend Representative Obey for putting together a package that delivers
for Wisconsin. We applaud Congress for passing a green recovery package and
urge the Senate to keep it clean for a greener, safer, stronger America.”
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Wisconsin Environment is a statewide, citizen-based
environmental advocacy group working for clean air, clean water, and open
space.
