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Clean-energy credits likely to be stripped from Senate economic stimulus bill

Posted at 12:55 PM on 01 Feb 2008

Renewable-energy incentives and green-job boosts are likely to be stripped out of the current Senate version of the much-hyped economic stimulus bill when it goes before the full chamber next week. But hey, if the Senate gives in to pressure to quickly pass a pared-down version, at least you'll get your check sooner. Consumerism will save the day!

sources: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal (access ain't free)

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Comments: (6 comments)

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can't hurt to call

i called my senators and insisted that they keep the renewable energy incentives in the bill, but only insofar as they do not support wilderness-destroying energy projects, and support individuals trying to generate energy on their own previously developed property...

the greenest energy is that which you needn't ever produce.

by stopgreenpath at 2:54 PM on 01 Feb 2008

I Oppose The Bill

The last thing the Earth needs is for already grossly overconsuming Americans to receive government checks so they can consume even more needless garbage. But I'm probably the only one who expressed that opinion, and the politicians know they won't get reelected by taking my point of view or by really acting for the Earth instead of shilling for selfish, materialistic people.

by Wolverine at 11:03 AM on 02 Feb 2008

Half-agree...

...I oppose the general concept of the bill as well.

But since it's gonna get passed either way, let's at least hope they go with the better of the two options and extend the renewables credits.

Wind power grew by 47% percent last year, solar even more so, and last year was the first year we were able to produce more than 1% of the nation's energy by renewables (a very tiny amount, but by far more than we would've thought we'd get just a few years ago). If we want to keep it up and improve that percentage we need these credits!

by Tasermons Partner at 11:28 AM on 02 Feb 2008

Do we have any lobbyists on this?

Does anyone know if any green action committees are engaged with the Senate on the stimulus package?

Joseph Basralian, NYC.

by bedros22 at 2:08 PM on 02 Feb 2008

Yes...

Does anyone know if any green action committees are engaged with the Senate on the stimulus package?

Well, I don't know if you'd call 'em "our" lobbyists, but obviously the American wind industry, along with several solar and other firms, are most certainly tryin' to pull sway with this bill.

by Tasermons Partner at 5:56 PM on 02 Feb 2008

The US Stimulation Package 2

If a pile of checks are sent out, then a huge chunk of the money will go to food and inexpensive goods (Walmart type stores), and to expensive life-style buys (overseas supplied too).

The employment in other countries will be given a massive assistance by the purchases coming from the "US Stimulation Package".

The politicians would have done better by, for example:

1    Giving out $billions in food stamps that get spent locally and help the poor.
2    Setting aside $billions more to extend Unemployment Insurance that also helps locally (including to take retraining).
3    Include using $10-20 billion for maybe clean fuels research, or redesign rebating to clean up dirty coal power plants.
4    And by taking a whopping $100 billion of it, and telling the American public that the money is up for grabs for the full cost of their purchase and operational installation of wind and solar power collectors, of all sizes, on a first come first served basis. Exclude large power farms from this stimulation package but not the bulk purchases of with-in city limits units that cities may wish to install. Many American people, cities and companies would jump in to get their chunk of the $billions.

Engaging these few things would cause instant effects and the money will be invested to promote the "US economy".

The continuing effect would be us becoming world leaders in these and other clean power technologies, many Americans finding permanent good employment, the US becoming a little more energy secure, and investment in the US stock market would also be assisted upward by the effect of American companies gearing up for the manufacturing, sales, and educational needs.

Giving us poor and suffering a few dollars won't help us. The availability of many good jobs would be better. Sort of like being given a fish as opposed to being helped to become a fisherman.

My first blog on "The US Stimulation Package" can be found at: http://community.myfoxstl.com/blogs/JosephThePoet

My first book "Life is a Puzzle" was recently published by PublishAmerica.com, under my pen name of JosephThePoet.

by JosephThePoet at 7:33 AM on 04 Feb 2008

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