Preparing for a Flood of Energy Efficiency Spending
This New York Times article points out the approaching "tsunami of stimulus money earmarked" for energy efficiency upgrades. This is good news for Alaska as we debate several different energy efficiency bills in Juneau - HB148, SB119 and SB 121. However, it also offers a word of caution for those states, Alaska is among them, who have not yet begun the daunting task of inventorying their buildings.
New York Times
February 27, 2009
By Kate Galbraith
This New York Times article points out the approaching "tsunami of stimulus money earmarked" for energy efficiency upgrades. This is good news for Alaska as we debate several different energy efficiency bills in Juneau - HB148, SB119 and SB 121. However, it also offers a word of caution for those states, Alaska is among them, who have not yet begun the daunting task of inventorying their buildings.
President Obama signed the stimulus package into law on Feb. 17 with at least $20 billion earmarked for programs like improving the efficiency of government buildings and the homes of poor people, and trying to find better ways to save energy. Alaska will need to act quickly and decisively to train a workforce and lay out a clear process for using state and federal energy efficiency dollars.
There is $4.5 billion to modernize federal buildings, $2.5 billion for research into energy efficiency and renewable energy and $6.3 billion for state and local governments to spend as needed for efficiency upgrades. Time will tell how Alaska uses this money but the planning must start now.
Read the entire article at the New York Times...
