U.S. Economic Stimulus Package Includes Billions for Energy and the Environment

A good article with additional links is on About.Com written by Larry West. Check out the full article, I have dropped the summary of the green provisions in the stimulus package in this post.

Energy Investments
· $4.5 billion for repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency using green technology.
· $11 billion for smart-grid activities, including work to modernize the nation’s electric grid.
· $6.3 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grants to help state and local governments make investments that make them more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
· $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low-income families reduce their energy costs by weatherizing their homes and make our country more energy efficient.
· $2.5 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy research.
· $2 billion in grant funding for the manufacturing of advanced batteries systems and components and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States.
· $6 billion for new loan guarantees aimed at standard renewable projects such as wind or solar projects and for electricity transmission projects.
· $1 billion for other energy efficiency programs including alternative fuel trucks and buses, transportation charging infrastructure, and smart and energy efficient appliances.
· $500 million to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy fields.
Infrastructure Improvements
· $4.2 billion to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of Defense facilities, including Defense Health facilities.
· $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to provide clean, reliable drinking water to rural areas and to ensure adequate water supply to Western communities affected by drought.
Transportation Improvements
· $8.4 billion for investments in public transportation.
· $1.5 billion for competitive grants to state and local governments for transportation investments.
· $9.3 billion for investments in rail transportation, including Amtrak, high speed and intercity rail.
Environmental Clean-Up and Clean Water Investments
· $6 billion to clean up former weapon production and energy research sites.
· $6 billion for local clean water and drinking water infrastructure improvements.
· $1.2 billion for EPA’s nationwide environmental cleanup programs, including Superfund.
· $1.38 billion to support $3.8 billion in loans and grants for water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.
Scientific Research
· $3 billion for the National Science Foundation, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness.
· $2 billion to the Department of Energy for basic research into the physical sciences including high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences and improvements to DOE laboratories and scientific facilities. $400 million is for the Advanced Research Project Agency–Energy to support high-risk, high-payoff research into energy sources and energy efficiency.
· $1 billion for NASA, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies.
· $600 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for construction and repair of facilities, ships and equipment to improve weather forecasting, support satellite development and address critical gaps in climate modeling.