Highlights of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

This blog was written by Jennifer Rennicks, former Senior Director of Policy & Communications at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Guest Blog | February 15, 2009 | Energy Efficiency, Energy Policy

solar_installation.pngOn February 13, 2009, members of Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1), often called the Economic Stimulus Bill, which included more than $78 billion in clean energy investments, with $8 billion in weatherization funding and energy efficiency grants that will support energy efficiency efforts nationwide to create 87,000 jobs and cut energy bills for families.

Highlights of this bill include:

  • $4.5 billion – Energy efficiency improvements in federal buildings
  • $3.1 billion – State Energy Programs
  • $3.2 billion – Energy Efficiency Block Grants
  • $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program
  • $6 billion – Energy infrastructure loan guarantee program
  • $4.5 billion – Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
  • $2 billion – Advanced battery/component manufacturing grants
  • $9.3 billion – Intercity rail, including high-speed rail
  • $1.5 billion – Surface transportation infrastructure (public transportation projects eligible)
  • $500 million – Green Jobs
  • $400 million – Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • $50 million – Wildland Fire Management funds to make wood-to-energy grants to promote increased utilization of biomass from federal, state or private lands
  • A three-year extension of the renewable production tax credit (PTC)
  • A more effective tax credit for home efficiency upgrades
  • funding for “decoupling”: This measure ensures that utilities are encouraged to invest in energy efficiency in the same way that they are encouraged to invest in new power capacity
  • No new funding for new nuclear power plants or liquid coal programs

Check to see how your senators and representative voted for this important economic stimulus package and thank your elected leaders from Capitol Hill to the White House who helped to enact the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – renewing our economy with unprecedented investments in clean and efficient energy!

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