Talking About Green

Confused by the Economic Stimulus Package? What’s really in it for the environment? Recent emails from the EPA and the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) provided a lot of answers.

To see how the funds are being spent, check out http://www.recovery.gov/. You might want to “bookmark” that site for future visits to see how dollars are spent and jobs created.

Some of the sweeteners for homeowners include up to $1500 in tax credit for new insulation, energy-efficient windows, heat/AC, and water heaters. Geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to that maximum. The credit MAY ONLY be for equipment, not labor. Not all Energy Star products qualify. See http://www.energystar.gov/ for complete information.

Here are some of the stimulus projects that could positively impact our environment, listed in order from mega-funded to ONLY millions. The ones of most interest to homeowners are in green. What else?

• $8 billion to rail projects that support intercity high-speed rail service
• $6 billion for renewable energy and electric transmission technologies projects (if they start construction by September 30, 2011, and involve renewable energy, electric transmission, or leading-edge biofuel technologies)
• $5 billion to the Weatherization Assistance Program (increases the eligible income level and the funding assistance level to $6,500 per home, and allows new assistance for homes that were weatherized as recently as 1994)
• $4.5 billion to modernize the nation’s electrical grid and implement smart grid technologies
• $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings into high-performance green buildings
• $4 billion to rehabilitate and retrofit public housing unit for greater energy efficiency
• $3.1 billion to states that adopt strict building energy codes and provide utility incentives for energy efficiency measures [Virginia Legislature debating these bills now!]
• $2 billion to manufacture advanced battery systems in the U.S.
• $1.3 billion to Amtrak for the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of passenger rail infrastructure
• $500 million to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy
• $400 million for a Geothermal Technologies Program
• $400 million to add electric technologies to vehicles
• $300 million to cover the costs of acquiring greener motor vehicles, including hybrids, electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, once they become commercially available (funds must be spent by September 30, 2011)
• $300 million for an Alternative Fueled Vehicles Pilot Grant Program
• $300 million for rebates for energy efficient appliances and the Energy Star Program
• $250 million to increase the energy efficiency of HUD-sponsored, low-income housing.
• $100 million to help public transit agencies reduce their energy consumption and their greenhouse gas emissions
• $4 million toward the establishment of an Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings.
• 3-year extension of the tax credit for most renewable energy facilities
• Tax credit of up to $7500 (starting in 2010) for full-scale commercial plug-in electric vehicles
• Tax credits to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements, eliminating caps for specific improvements (such as windows and furnaces); with an aggregate cap of $1,500 for all improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010. See http://www.energystar.gov/ for information.

AND FROM THE EPA: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 specifically includes $7.22 billion for projects and programs administered by EPA and will create 3 to 4 million “quality, sustainable jobs.” Programs include:

• $4 billion to help communities with water quality and wastewater infrastructure needs
• $2 billion for drinking water infrastructure needs. A portion of the funding will be targeted toward green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency, and environmentally innovative projects.
• $600 million for the cleanup of hazardous sites
• $300 million to help regional, state and local governments, tribal agencies, and non-profit organizations with projects that reduce diesel emissions
• $200 million for cleanup of petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks
• $100 million for competitive grants to evaluate and clean up “Brownfields”