Administration

Emphasis on clean energy and a green industry are part of the turn around plan presented by future President Barack Obama. Recently the house moved to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill.

According to the summary of the bill the stimulus will:

Put people back to work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will strengthen efforts directed at doubling renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient

* $32 billion to transform the nation’s energy transmission, distribution, and production systems by allowing for a smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology.
* $16 billion to repair public housing and make key energy efficiency retrofits.
* $6 billion to weatherize modest-income homes.

Transform our Economy with Science and Technology: We need to put scientists to work looking for the next great discovery, creating jobs in cutting-edge-technologies, and making smart investments that will help businesses in every community succeed in a global economy. For every dollar invested in broadband the economy sees a ten-fold return on that investment.

* $10 billion for science facilities, research, and instrumentation.
* $6 billion to expand broadband internet access so businesses in rural and other underserved areas can link up to the global economy.

Modernize Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways: To build a 21st century economy, we must engage contractors across the nation to create jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, and bridges, modernize public buildings, and put people to work cleaning our air, water and land.

* $30 billion for highway construction;
* $31 billion to modernize federal and other public infrastructure with investments that lead to long term energy cost savings;
* $19 billion for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration investments;
* $10 billion for transit and rail to reduce traffic congestion and gas consumption.

This is a summary of just some of the recommendations of the act. It appears that the emphasis on energy efficiency, infrastructure, and emerging technologies is key.