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Report: Billions of Stimulus Dollars Were Used to Implement ‘Green Energy’ Initiatives for Fed Agencies

Report: Billions of Stimulus Dollars Were Used to Implement Green Energy’ Initiatives for Fed AgenciesThe 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (i.e. the stimulus) funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into “green energy” initiatives for federal agencies, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

157 of nearly 700 renewable “green energy” initiatives in 2010 were either “created by the stimulus law, received expanded funding or were modified under it,” according to Christopher Goins of CNS News.

“Agencies’ renewable energy efforts increased in recent years as a result of the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and other factors,” the GAO reports

A full 20 programs were created under the Recovery Act, while an additional 106 initiatives that existed before the stimulus received additional funding for “green” energy. Moreover, 26 programs were expanded under the stimulus law.

“An overwhelming number of renewable energy initiatives supported bioenergy, solar, and wind energy — with 398 bioenergy initiatives, 345 solar initiatives, and 296 wind initiatives being supported government-wide,” Goins reports.

Here are some other initiatives created by the Recovery Act:

  • The Recovery Act Wood to Energy Biomass Activity initiative, a Department of Agriculture project
  • The Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing, a Department of Housing and  Urban Development project
  • The Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, a Department of the Interior Intitiative
  • Green Capacity Building grants, a Department of Labor initiative
  • And the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit, a U.S. Treasury Department initiative.Report: Billions of Stimulus Dollars Were Used to Implement Green Energy’ Initiatives for Fed Agencies

The GAO report does not include the cost-per-program.

“The government’s top energy research body, the Energy Information Administration [EIA], estimated that for fiscal year 2010, federal subsidies for renewable energy sources totaled approximately $14.7 billion, including $8.2 billion in tax expenditures,” Goins writes.

“The GAO report says that amount is a substantial increase from EIA’s estimate from fiscal year 2007, which was $5.1 billion, adding that much of the increase was due to the stimulus law,” he adds.

The Recovery Act provided an estimated $6.2 billion of the $14.7 billion in subsidies in 2010, according to the GAO. The GAO also cites an estimate from the EIA that claims total federal subsidies for “renewable sources” from 2002-2008 was $29 billion.

Read the full GAO report here.

Comments (35)

  • SandyfromChesterfield
    Posted on March 23, 2012 at 6:09pm

    You all do realize that the stimulus bill is included in the baseline of the budget since it was passed. So that $787 billion has also been spent in 2010 and 2011. That is why the democrats will not pass a budget.

    Report Post »  
  • ShruggingAtlas
    Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:00am

    The “Green Gang” wants your green-backs for their “Gangrene” projects. Oil has been and will continue to be the life blood of America’s economy. Removing oil from the “all of the above” list is like cutting the body’s blood flow to its extremities. The result for the body is gangrene and ultimately the amputation of the extremity. The result in cutting oil in America is analogous. Say goodbye to the America we used to know.

    Report Post » ShruggingAtlas  
    • jhrusky
      Posted on March 23, 2012 at 4:04pm

      The reason all these dollars went to federal agencies to get green energy was to ensure they can still operate once the solar flare hits and the rest of us our without. Mark my word … highups in the government know something that the rest of us do not.

      Report Post » jhrusky  
  • lbk
    Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:53am

    Ya think someone should inform O‘dummo if he doesn’t have oil he doesn’t have his stupid solar panels or his idiotic wind turbines. After all, it takes oil for production. It is the base of almost everything we use.

    Report Post »  
  • hugo65hsv
    Posted on March 23, 2012 at 6:50am

    Get rid of the tax code and you will see most of this government backed liberal nonsense go away..

    Report Post »  
  • Inlandmar2
    Posted on March 23, 2012 at 2:35am

    Can’t wait til the Feds get into a chase with their electric cars. It won’t last more than 40 miles or exceed 70mph. Of course, after the 40 mile chase, you have to call a tow truck cause there aren’t any electrical outlets on the highway. Of course Obama has a solution for that – long extension cords!

    Report Post » Inlandmar2  
  • Huldah1776
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 6:35pm

    Our Military must also implement these green standards, all expensive, while having the budget CUT.

    Report Post »  
    • RayOne
      Posted on March 23, 2012 at 4:23pm

      It is not a military if it is not allowed to win, let the social workers make a deal.

      Report Post » RayOne  
  • mikee1
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 6:00pm

    BIG GOV. PAYS FOR IT AND BUYS IT. The crony communists get the taxpayers’ money, YOUR MONEY. Unless you’re a lifelong welfare taker and never want to work again, think ABOUT voting FOR THIS ODUMBO INC. AGAIN. He has taken BIG GOV. CORRUPTION UP ABOUT 4 NOTCHES. EVEN RINOROMNEY WOULD BE BETTER THAN HIM. If Obama wins again, the COUNTRY IS OVER.

    Report Post » mikee1  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:44pm

    I was reading about VESTA, a company headquartered in Denmark. They get a lot of contracts for wind turbines. They just got one in late Feb and one in early March from the U.S. – Obama will NEVER give up on the ‘agenda” or investing OUR tax dollars!
    VESTAS – supplies wind turbines form their web site: NOTICE they are upset about our LOW GAS prices back in early 2011? hmmmmm
    “Political winds of change
    In many countries, the political attention to renewable energy is overshadowed
    by severe economic challenges. The USA has yet to draw up
    a national energy plan with ambitious climate targets. The lack of such
    a plan, combined with low gas prices makes for difficult market conditions.
    Consequently, Vestas is preparing for a significant slowdown in
    the US market in case the Production Tax Credit (PTC) scheme is not
    extended beyond 2012.”

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • RayOne
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:42pm

    The green Czar is back, after party ‘dry cleaning’.
    Nancy/Reid are responsible.

    Report Post » RayOne  
  • kangaroo
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:39pm

    Government shouldn’t be giving any biz any money at all, or bailing any biz out. now if the biz can get a legit loan from a bank showing a good biz plan well then and until only then the gov could invest in that company no more than 5% and get diviends or get repayed in interest. So far we have billions virtualy tipped down the stairs like the sheet the ows crowd just did.

    Report Post » kangaroo  
  • TeaPartyForRomney
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:38pm

    A MUST SEE:

    Did you see the RNC attack ad against Obama claiming that Congress caused Solyndra: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2012/mar/rnc_ad_solyndra_obama.html

    Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:37pm

    Glenn is talking about “transparency” and while I was searching something THIS came up? WONDER what it is? Any computer geeks understand it? Weird… http://www.fpml.org/_wgmail/_rptwgmail/maillist.html

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • nonofmybiznez
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:36pm

    My biggest problem with this energy stimulus is that it benefits the rich. That’s right, Obama’s rich environmentalist friends are the beneficiaries of these programs. Not the regular folk. How many of us can afford solar panels installed on our house even after rebates? How many of us can afford a new electric car even after rebates? How many of us can afford to continue to subsidize these programs to benefit only the rich? We all want these things. We want to take care of the planet and the people. Become energy independent and work on these types of energy and make them affordable by making the rich subsidize the technology just like computers, cell phones and all technology.

    Report Post » nonofmybiznez  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:26pm

    In related news – yesterday mitt romney was in maryland talking about how GEORGE BUSH SAVED THE ECONOMY via bailouts and TARP. WHAT A JOKE. Mitt Romney represents everything we have been fighting against for the last 3 years.

    I keep telling you guys he knows business but he doesnt know economics – but nobody listens. The worst thing to do is put a corporatist republican in who doesnt know the proper limits of government….

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/mitt-romney-george-bush_n_1371073.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/mitt-romney-george-bush_n_1371073.html

    Report Post » soybomb315  
    • mathwonk
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:31pm

      rick santorum on why he believes in big government-

      “Republicans, I think to our credit have sort of morphed away from the Goldwater idea that the really government just needs to be smaller, it needs to do less, it needs to be doing nothing except at what its core functions are, to a party by and large that says look, we need to restructure the way the government functions to actually create the kind of incentives or create the kind of help and programs that give that authority.. I mean power to solve these problems to folks closer to people or to the family or to the individual themselves.”

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-WezrKqUBQ&feature=player_embedded

      Report Post »  
    • mathwonk
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:35pm

      the following quote is from rick santorum’s book in which he claims that his beliefs are an extension of compassionate conservatism (ala george w bush)-

      “I suspect some will dismiss my ideas as just an extended version of ‘compassionate conservatism.’ Some will reject what I have said as a kind of ‘big government conservatism.’ Some will say that what I’ve tried to argue isn’t conservatism at all. But I believe what I’ve been presenting is the genuine conservatism our Founders envisioned. One that fosters the opportunity for all Americans to live as we are called to live, in selfless families that contribute to the general welfare, the common good.”

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:36pm

      proper link
      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/mitt-romney-george-bush_n_1371073.html

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • mathwonk
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:40pm

      Santorum supported affordable housing schemes, making no secret of his support for them-

      “I am pleased that the Senate made this commitment to promote home ownership and affordable housing opportunities,” he said in 2000 after the Senate passed a bill he had co-sponsored, the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act. “This bill will enable countless Americans to fulfill their dream of owning a home, while providing for the housing needs of seniors and disabled Americans.”

      Report Post »  
    • mathwonk
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:43pm

      Santorum “helped the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh secure millions in federal monies, describing one such earmark as “instrumental in creating affordable housing conditions in Philadelphia.” When challenged on not doing enough to help the poor by religious liberals, his office replied in 2006 that he had worked to secure $17 million in loan guarantees for affordable housing projects in Philadelphia. The National Mortgage News noticed his involvement, reporting that “Sen. Santorum supports the concept of an [affordable housing] fund that could pump billions into the construction and renovation of affordable housing.” His Republican Senate colleague, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, thanked Santorum “for taking a leadership role in addressing the need for a better focus by Fannie and Freddie on affordable housing.”

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:44pm

      mathwonk
      yeah – santorum sucks as well. is that a reason to support romney?

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • mathwonk
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:53pm

      yes! santorum is a charlatan. he is guilty of the same spending largess that led to the housing bubble and the financial crisis of 2008-2009. romney is our only hope of stopping him!

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 6:08pm

      mathwonk
      no – that would be the republican party. romney is backed by the full faith and decreption of the republican party. iromney and santorum as essentially the same candidate because they are party candidates – though it is possible the big corporations and banks will have more influence with romney

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • mathwonk
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 7:07pm

      i was very disappointed when palin decided not to run for president. i then shifted my allegiance to rick perry, as i believed that he was running on the best platform- limited government, deficit reduction, a commitment to the 10th amendment, lower taxes, less regulations, strong national defense, a libertarian streak, etc. moreover, he had the record to back it up! unfortunately he was a very flawed candidate…

      i don’t think that mitt romney is the ideal candidate. in fact, i would probably vote for newt gingrich over him. however, i believe that romney is far more conservative than rick santorum. if you look into santorum’s past then you will see that big spending and big government is patterned into his voting record. for instance, mitt romney balanced budgets in mass while rick santorum was fueling the housing bubble with excessive spending on progressive housing programs. (please see the posts above)

      most importantly, rick santorum is both polarizing and unelectable- (1) he is a bigger fraud than mitt romney, (2) he doesn’t have the capacity to raise a lot of money, (3) he has a history of making outrageous statements on social issues, and (4) he has an enormous amount of skeletons that haven’t come out yet because the MSM is rooting for him.

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 7:22pm

      i hear ya – i would like both of them much better than romney/santorum. i feel about romney the same way you feel about santorum. since mitt is the frontrunner and ‘presumptive’ – he gets my attention.

      at a convention – it is anyone’s game…Even palin could get in it. Of course, the only way to get there is to make sure mitt doesnt “clinch” the delegates

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • cja23
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:22pm

    The lamestreet media is lying through their teeth to the American people just to cover up for Obama. We have to get the truth out there before it’s too late for America.

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:22pm

    Maybe it’s just me but in my opinion this battle is being fought on the wrong front. The problem with all these energy projects is storage. We just can’t store energy effectively. We can make it in many ways, some cheap, some expensive but the bottom line is storage. Everyone seems to want to chase a battery of some kind and maybe that’t the answer, Don’t know, but building more production seems to be counter productive to me until you can store the stuff. IE Obama be barking up the wrong tree.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • kangaroo
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:44pm

      I agree, I live on a sailboat. This one doesn’t have wind or solar like my last one I went for a generator this time. but anyway your right once the batteries are full the rest of the power generated goes to waste. and you still have to replace the batteries after a while.

      Report Post » kangaroo  
  • mathwonk
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:14pm

    senator jim demint said today that “i’m not only comfortable with romney, i’m excited about the possibility of him possibly being our nominee”. he also suggested “that other candidates bow out”. the following link has more on this- http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/22/romney-meets-with-key-republicans-on-capitol-hill/

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:28pm

      there is a war going on in the republican party and we are losing more and more good soldiers every day. Mitt romney is the anti-demint but yet demint now likes him….somebody is pulling the strings behind these guys and you are not going to like who is doing it

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • HKS
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:08pm

    Does anyone have an ROI or a break-even analyses on this? Is this not normally done with all projects?

    Report Post » HKS  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:05pm

    Follow the Money!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 5:24pm

      Funneled right into the pockets of Obama supporters no doubt.

      Report Post »  

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