With the mammoth $789 Billion stimulus package on the verge of passing the Senate and being signed into law, let’s see what’s in it to jumpstart the new green economy of the 21st Century.  Bear in mind these numbers are preliminary and could change around from some last minute haggling.  But it looks certain that a whole lot of money, over $55 Billion to be more accurate, is about to be pumped into a whole lot of very important projects for the future of this country, saving job, the environment and hopefully the economy as well.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

• $6.3 Billion will be granted to local government energy efficiency programs.
• $5 Billion will go to the Weatherization Assistance Program to help improve energy efficiency in low income homes.
• $4.5 Billion to improve energy efficiency in federal buildings and facilities.
• $2.25 Billion on energy efficiency retrofitting in low income homes.
• $510 Million for energy efficiency retrofitting in Native American homes.
• $420 Million for energy efficiency improvements at the Department of Defense.
• $300 Million for Department of Defense energy efficiency research for military installations.
• $300 Million for Energy Star rebates. 

ENERGY TRANSMISSION AND RESEARCH:

• $11 Billion for a much needed, 21st Century Smart Electricity Grid
• $7.5 Billion for renewable energy and transmission line construction.
• $400 Million for research on alternative energy sources and efficiency.

TRANSPORTATION:

• $8.4 Billion for Mass Transit capital assistance.
• $8 Billion for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail.
• $300 Million to buy hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles for the federal fleet.
• $300 Million for grants and loans to develop technology to reduce diesel pollution.

GREEN JOBS:

• $500 Million for a Green Jobs program.

While the amounts appropriated to different programs will never please everyone, this is undoubtedly a very big step in the right direction for Washington who finally came through with a much needed push to get our energy policy on track.

You can takepart in finding other clean green energy efficient ideas by checking out We Can Solve It.

LINKS:

NY Times: Stimulus Bill Passes in the House with No GOP Support

WaPo: Senate begins voting on economic stimulus bill

WSJ: House Passes Stimulus