How a stimulus package could improve the economy and energy policy

November 25, 2008

Recognizing that the incoming administration and Congress are likely to pass a stimulus package early-on, Google.org makes some suggestions on how this package could be used to improve our energy policy and economy at the same time.  Here are the four major suggestions:

Invest in renewable energy by changing the structure of the wind and solar tax credits.  With the current economy, many investors cannot take advantage of tax credits since they no longer have profits.  If Congress transformed the credits into refunds, investors would receive the incentives Congress intended.

Begin work on the smart grid by actually funding grants that were authorized in the 2007 energy bill for development and demonstration of smart energy grid programs.  Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt analogizes a smart grid to the de-centralized and efficient nature of the Internet.  (As does the Department of Energy.)

Fund efforts to make homes more efficient through weatherization.  A $3 billion appropriation could weatherize around one million low-income homes.  Weatherization, on average, reduces heating bills by around 30%. 

And finally, Google.org suggests that we “green the government,” since they are the largest single consumer of electricity in the country.  This effort could include purchasing renewable power from utilities and converting fleets to low-emission vehicles, among other things.

Overall, Google.org’s suggestions are very reasonable and could be a great first-step in sparking change in our energy policy and improving the economy.  (Not to mention saving the environment and improving national security.

« Previous Post | Next Post »

Comments

One Comment on How a stimulus package could improve the economy and energy policy

  1. Paula Chriss on Thu, 4th Dec 2008 9:32 am

    2. The initiatives mentioned above are all good and well but the American people need to see some type of immediate assistance. Just as immediate as the Bail-Out was for the large companies earlier this year. In the next Stimulus Package I would like to see a $5,000.00 stimulus cut added to the 2008 income tax 1040 form. There could be an extra line added to the 1040 for such as 37a. This line would instruct you to subtract 5,000.00 from your adjusted gross income. The fact that this is simply a form change makes it quick and easy to implement. New forms could be created within an hour and published. This would allow all Americans that have earned the required amount to file income tax an opportunity of receiving a larger return. It would not just affect those who are currently working but those who were laid-off as well. Upon receiving a larger income tax return American will begin to pay bills, shop and feel that the government has finally, considered the average person. Will our deficit grow of course however; we all know that there is no way around that considering our current economic standing. At least with this tax cut we would feel that the debt was not all about stimulating Big Business.

    Reply

Please contribute to the discussion by leaving a comment below. No need to agree with the post or other commenters, but please be constructive and respectful.