U.S. House approves 80 billion for clean energy and green transportation
projects
Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives
voted this afternoon 244-188 to repower America
and rebuild the economy with an economic recovery package that makes bold
investments in clean energy and energy efficiency, according to Environment North
Carolina.
“With this
economic recovery package, Congress took the first step today down the road to
a new clean energy economy for America,”
said Elizabeth Ouzts, Environment North Carolina State Director. “This bill will deliver a more secure energy
future; less pollution; more clean lakes and rivers, and more good jobs right
here at home.”
The
“American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” includes at least $37.9 billion for
energy efficiency, $27.8 billion for renewable energy and $14.6 billion for
public transit and clean transportation, for a total of $80 billion in clean
energy funding. Environment North
Carolina applauded the North
Carolina Reps. Butterfield, Etheridge, Kissell,
McIntyre, Miller, Price, and Watt. On a
voice vote, the House also adopted an amendment by Rep. Nadler of New
York to increase public transit funding by $3
billion, capturing an enormous opportunity to prevent pollution, save oil, and
create more jobs. members who voted for the package:
America’s
transportation sector is responsible for one third of the nation’s global
warming pollution and 60 percent of oil consumption. Funding for public
transit, which creates one third less pollution than comparable passenger car
travel, yields 19 percent more jobs per dollar than building new highways. With the Nadler amendment, the bill includes
$13 billion for transit capital funds, more efficient buses, and pressing
transit improvements that would save more than 12 million barrels of oil per
year and generate at least 521,000 jobs.
The bill
dramatically expands federal funding for state- and city-directed
weatherization programs. According to Environment
North Carolina’s analysis of the bill’s provisions on energy efficiency, the
$6.2 billion investment in the Weatherization Assistance Program will reduce
greenhouse gas pollution by 12 million tons, create 465,000 new jobs over two
years and meet President Obama’s goal of weatherizing two million homes. U.S. House leaders have estimated that North
Carolina could receive as much as $140 million in
weatherization assistance.
In addition
to extending clean energy tax credits for three years, the bill makes an
adjustment to the renewable energy production tax credits that Environment North
Carolina estimates will create or sustain 254,000 quality jobs such as in
engineering, installation, construction and maintenance. The bill allows new or struggling renewable
energy companies with no profit or tax liability to apply to the Department of
Energy for grants in place of the tax credits they can not use. “By extending the clean energy tax credits
and making them recession proof, Congress is helping keep an industry that
prevented 79 million tons of global warming pollution in 2007 on track,”
explained Ouzts.
“Through the
clean energy and green infrastructure investments in this economic recovery
package, we can make a down payment on solving global warming while delivering
the economic boost we need,” concluded Ouzts. “We applaud Congress for passing
a green recovery package and urge the Senate to keep it clean for a greener,
safer, stronger America.”
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Environment North
Carolina
is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy group working for
clean air, clean water, and open spaces.
