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How Senate and House Versions of Stimulus Differ on Sustainability

By Elena Foshay and Keith Schneider

The Senate this week took up consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which passed the House last week. As introduced on Monday, the Senate version called for nearly $900 billion in stimulus, of which $825 billion was in spending programs.

The analysis by the Apollo Alliance shows that as introduced this week, the Senate proposed $148.3 billion in clean energy and green-collar job investment. In addition the Senate included $31.7 billion in brownfield cleanup and land and water conservation, much of which could lead to thousands more green-collar jobs.

The clean energy, good jobs provisions of the Senate and House versions of the stimulus bill borrow significantly from the one-year, $50 billion Apollo Economic Recovery Act, introduced late last year by the Apollo Alliance, and 10-year, $500 billion New Apollo Program, which was made public in September.

Though the Senate version as introduced proposed a 25 percent increase in clean energy investment when compared to the House measure, the Apollo Alliance is concerned about the Senate’s proposed investment in green-collar job training. The House version included $500 million in support for the Green Jobs Act, a $125 million training program developed by the Apollo Alliance and its partners and approved in the 2007 Energy Bill. The program was never funded, however. The Senate is proposing to invest $250 million in the Green Jobs Act. On Tuesday, Apollo Chairman Phil Angelides sent an email alert to our supporters nationwide, informing them of the difference between the House and Senate version, and asking them to contact Senate members to urge passage of the House version of the Green Jobs Act investment, and other measures.

Though the Senate version as introduced proposed a 25 percent increase in clean energy investment when compared to the House measure, the Apollo Alliance is concerned about the Senate’s proposed investment in green-collar job training. The House version included $500 million in support for the Green Jobs Act, a $125 million training program developed by the Apollo Alliance and its partners and approved in the 2007 Energy Bill. The program was never funded, however. The Senate is proposing to invest $250 million in the Green Jobs Act. On Tuesday, Apollo Chairman Phil Angelides sent an email alert to our supporters nationwide, informing them of the difference between the House and Senate version, and asking them to contact Senate members to urge passage of the House version of the Green Jobs Act investment, and other measures.

Our comparative analysis of the clean energy, green-collar job provisions of the Senate stimulus bill (as introduced), the House version, and the Apollo Economic Recovery Act follows

Tracking the Clean Energy, Good Jobs Provisions of the Stimulus

American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan - Senate Version
American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan - House Version
Apollo Economic Recovery Act
Total

– Total Investment: $825 billion over two years

– Clean Energy/Green-Collar Jobs Investment: $148.3 billion

The Senate bill proposes an additional $62.3 billion for a number of stimulus measures that have the potential to promote clean energy and create green jobs, including:

  • $7.7 billion for brownfield remediation.
  • $24 billion for land and water conservation.
  • $11 billion for construction projects that could include green building and energy efficiency standards.
  • $1.7 billion for research that could lead to development of new clean technologies.
  • $13.9 billion for Pell grants that could support students in the sciences and engineering.
  • $4 billion in job training funds that could be directed towards green-collar jobs.



– Total Investment: $550 billion over two years

– Clean Energy/Green-Collar Jobs Investment: $114.5 billion

-- Will save or create 3.7 million jobs

(The House bill proposes an additional $145.3 billion for other stimulus measures that have the potential to promote clean energy and create green jobs, including:

- At least $13 billion in loan guarantees, which will leverage $85 billion in loans.

- $2.2 billion for brownfield remediation.

- $21.7 billion for land and water conservation.

- $12 billion for construction projects that could include green building and energy efficiency standards.

- $3.9 billion for research that could lead to development of new clean technologies.

- $17.6 billion for Pell grants that could support students in the sciences and engineering.

- $4.6 billion in job training funds that could be directed towards green-collar jobs.)

– Total Investment: $50 billion for one year

– Clean Energy/Green-Collar Jobs Investment: $50 billion

– Will create or retain almost 2 million jobs

Rebuild America Clean and Green

Energy

Efficiency
Weatherization

  • $19.5 billion for school construction, renovation and modernization, including energy efficiency improvements.
  • $3.2 billion to the Department of Defense for facility construction and maintenance, some of which is to be used to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
  • $3.6 billion for VA hospital and medical facility construction and improvements. This funding includes $329 million in energy-related construction.
  • $2.25 Billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program block grant.
  • $357 million for renovation of NIST facilities and new laboratories using green technologies
  • $4.2 billion is provided for energy efficiency and conservation grants.
  • $1.6 billion is provided to DOE for grants to make schools and hospitals, significant users of energy, more energy efficient.
  • $500 million for state energy programs.
  • $6 billion for repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency using green technology.
  • $613 million for energy efficiency upgrades and construction of alternative energy projects, including wind and solar power and photovoltaic roof systems, at Department of Defense facilities.
  • $50 million for loans and grants to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy development for agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
  • $3 billion for energy efficiency upgrades to Department of Defense facilities.
  • $250 million for energy efficiency upgrades to Department of Defense health facilities.
  • $20 million for energy efficiency upgrades at Bureau of Reclamation facilities.
  • $4 million to create a federal Office of Federal High-Performance Green Building.
  • $20 million for energy efficiency upgrades to BLM visitor centers.
  • $100 million for energy efficiency improvements to US Fish and Wildlife facilities.
  • $40 million for energy efficiency retrofits to National Park Service facilities.
  • $20 million to BIA for housing energy efficiency improvements.
  • $5 billion to HUD for construction and maintenance projects that will improve energy efficiency in public housing.
  • $3.5 billion to owners of Section 8 housing to perform energy efficiency improvements.
  • $400 million for FBI construction projects.
  • $1 billion for construction, modernization, and repair of prison facilities.
  • $800 million for construction of Customs and Border Protection facilities.
  • $310 million to the National Park Service for construction of facilities.
  • $135 million to USGS for maintenance and construction projects.
  • $372 million to BIA for construction and maintenance projects.
  • $410 million for the construction of Indian health facilities.
  • $1.5 billion for construction and renovation of CDC and DHHS.
  • $500 million for construction and renovation of NIH facilities.
  • $75 million to the Department of State for construction of a training facility.
  • $510 million in Native American Housing Block Grants.

Total:$59.9 billion

  • $6.0 billion for increasing energy efficiency and conservation in federal buildings.
  • $3.5 billion in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants to help state and local governments make investments that make them more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
  • $3.4 billion for State Energy Programs, to support residential, commercial, and governmental retrofits.
  • $500 million in loan guarantees to help institutions implement sustainable energy infrastructure projects. It is estimated that this will support $5 billion in loans.
  • $2.5 billion for a new program to upgrade HUD sponsored low-income housing to increase energy efficiency, including new insulation, windows, and furnaces.
  • $1.5 billion for energy sustainability and efficiency grants and loans to help school districts, institutes of higher education, local governments, and municipal utilities implement projects that will make them more energy efficient.
  • $5 billion to HUD for public housing building repair and modernization, including critical safety repairs.
  • $1.5 billion to the HOME Program to help local communities build and rehabilitate low-income housing using green technologies.
  • $500 million to rehabilitate and improve energy efficiency at some of the over 42,000 housing units maintained by Native American housing programs.
  • $10 million for rural, high-need areas to undertake projects using sustainable and energy-efficient building and rehabilitation practices.
  • $20 billion for 21st Century Green High-Performance school construction, renovation, and modernization including energy efficiency improvements.
  • $4.5 billion for renovation and energy efficiency improvements in Department of Defense facilities.
  • $1.5 billion for renovation of NIH university-based research centers, with priority for upgrades that improve energy efficiency.
  • $950 million for renovation of Veterans Affairs facilities including energy efficiency upgrades.

Total: $51.36 billion

  • $6 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program; $1 billion should be set aside to leverage private investment in programs focused on large-scale, multi-building retrofit projects that provide job opportunities in urban areas.
  • $2.9 billion is available for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

  • $6.2 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.
  • $1 billion for LIHEAP to help low-income families pay for home heating and cooling at a time of rising energy costs.
  • $300 million to provide consumers with rebates for buying energy efficient Energy Star products to replace old appliances.

Total: $7.5 billion

  • $900 million to fully fund the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Renewable
Energy
  • Extends the Production Tax Credit, allows renewable electricity producers to elect the investment tax credit in lieu of the production tax credit. Makes it available to any electricity production facility.
  • Allows tax credits to offset taxes paid over the previous six years.
  • $2.648 billion to DOE for energy efficiency and renewable energy research, development, demonstration and deployment activities.
  • $10 billion is provided for new loan guarantees aimed at standard renewable projects such as wind or solar projects and for electricity transmission projects.
  • $200 million for loans and grants to assist in the development of new and emerging technologies for the development of advanced biofuels.
  • $200 million to the Department of Defense for testing and deployment of renewable energy technologies.

Total: $13 billion

  • $8 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy power generation and transmission projects. Expected to leverage $80 billion in funding.
  • $2 billion to DOE for research, development, demonstration, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, including R&D for advanced batteries.
  • Authorizes an additional $1.6 billion in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS.)
  • Extends the Production Tax Credit.
  • Expands the tax credit for residential renewable energy projects.

Total: $10 billion
  • Fix the Production and Investment Tax Credits for the renewable energy industry by making them refundable through 2009 or by allowing credits to offset taxes paid over the previous ten years.
Grid Upgrades
  • $10.9 billion for smart-grid related activities, including work to modernize the electric grid, enhance security and reliability, perform energy storage research, development, demonstration and deployment,

    and provide worker training

  • $10.9 billion for research and development, pilot projects, and federal matching funds for the Smart Grid Investment Program to modernize the electricity grid.
  • Invest $10 billion in upgrading the transmission grid to better connect consumers to renewable energy resources, improve reliability and efficiency, enhance emergency response and reduce the system’s vulnerability to natural disaster and attack.
  • Invest $1 billion in “smart grid” and “smart metering” demonstration projects.
Carbon
Capture and
Sequestration
  • $4.6 billion for Fossil Energy research and development, including $2 billion to construct a power plant using Carbon Capture and Sequestration, $1 billion for DOE Clean Coal Power Initiative and $1.6 billion for a competitive solicitation for projects that demonstrate carbon capture from industrial sources.
  • Provides additional $10 tax credit per metric ton of carbon sequestered and stored.

  • $2.4 billion for carbon capture and sequestration technology demonstration projects.
  • Invest $1 billion in carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.
Public Transit
  • $8.2 billion in grants to states for investments in public transportation.
  • $2 billion for grants for investments in high speed rail corridors.
  • $250 million for grants to states for investments in intercity passenger rail.
  • $850 million for capital grants to Amtrak.
  • $60 million for grants to states for the construction of ferry transportation systems.
  • Increases the tax exemption allowed for employer-provided public transit benefits.
  • Increases the speed requirement on high-speed rail system bonds to exceed speeds of 150 mph.

Total: $11.3 billion

  • $1 billion for Capital Investment Grants for new commuter rail or other light rail systems.
  • $2 billion to modernize existing transit systems, including renovations to stations, security systems, computers, equipment, structures, signals, and communications.
  • $1.1 billion to improve the speed and capacity of intercity passenger rail service.
  • Nadler amendment adds $3 billion for public transit

Total: $7.1 billion

  • Invest $6 billion in ready-to-go public transit projects across the country.
Transportation Infrastructure
  • $240 million to the Coast Guard for repair of bridges deemed hazardous.
  • $500 million to secure high risk critical infrastructure such as dams, tunnels, and bridges.
  • $27 billion is included for highway investments, particularly repair and maintenance projects. The vast majority of this funding will be distributed as grants using a formula set in current highway authorization law.
  • $5.5 billion for competitive grants to state and local governments for transportation infrastructure investments.
  • $40 million for grants to small shipyards.
  • $800 million for repair and restoration of roads on park, forest, tribal and other public lands ($160 million to BLM, $60 million to US Fish and Wildlife Service, $180 million to the National Park Service, $280 million to NFS, $120 million to BIA).

Total: $39.54 billion

  • $150 million for ready-to-go investments to repair or remove bridges deemed hazardous.
  • $15 billion for highway and bridge repair and resurfacing projects.
  • $250 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for road, dam, and other infrastructure construction and maintenance projects.

Total: $15.4 billion

  • Invest $8 billion to fix the bridges and roads that are crumbling across America.

This is an edited version of a story posted by Apollo Alliance, go here for the full story.

Comments By Readers

Bill Comparison

Sophia on February 05, 2009 at 10:20 AM

After watching the Senate work for the past few days, I can't believe they have no idea what creates jobs and things which will help the American People. They just want to add Pork wherever possible. Even if it does nothing for jobs creation or important issues to help the people. I never knew we had so many ignorant, selfish people running our government. I am sorry to say I sure am not proud of them or their work. There certainly is no change in government. It is the same old bunch of bureucrats.

Ruby on February 05, 2009 at 05:04 PM

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