MU Environmental Network News
March 2009
Vol. 15 No. 3
Editor - Jan Weaver
208 Tucker Hall, MU 65211
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - the Energy Provisions by Jan Weaver
The Conference bill version of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was passed by both houses of Congress on February 13th, and signed into law on February 17th. I thought it would be helpful to explore the energy related provisions to see where the federal government is pointing the country over the next decade.
The act itself is 404 pages. You can download a pdf version at recovery.gov, the federal website designed to track the spending of the $789 billion in the bill. Aside from its length, several other features make the actual bill pretty inaccessible to the average citizen, the table of contents does not include page numbers and the section headings are not very distinctive, so you have to actually scroll through 404 pages hoping to hit the sections that interest you. It is further complicated by the fact that bills allocate funds by federal agencies instead of by what they are supposed to accomplish. This makes sense from a budgetary standpoint but is not very helpful if you are trying to identify energy related spending, which may be divided among different agencies. In addition many sections of the bill amend other bills, so those have to be tracked down, and other sections include redudant statements that read a lot like "don't cheat" clauses, or "this is when we can skip the rules in other bills" clauses. It really is very sausage-like.
So, I went to Wikepedia, where some anonymous author helpfully pulled out the various spending items and grouped them in various ways. The major categories are tax cuts- $288 billion(37%) with $51 billion going to companies and $237 going to individuals (payroll tax credit, increase in AMT floor, expansion of child tax credit, college tuition credit, homebuyer credit, home energy credit); state and local fiscal relief - $144 billion (18%) almost all to Medicaid and Education; and federal social and spending programs - $357 billion (45%) where the energy provisions fall.
Specific Department of Energy allocations (page 20 of the bill) include $16.8 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy which includes $3.2 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants under subtitle E of title V of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (I warned you); $5 billion for weatherization, $3.1 billion for state energy program authorization, $2 billion for manufacture of advanced batteries and components, including facility funding, and $4.5 billion to modernize the grid, including demand responsive equipment and energy storage research.
The Wikipedia site includes energy projects in other parts of the bill, so its total comes to $49.7 billion
* $11 billion funding for an electric smart grid
* $6.3 billion for state and local governments to make investments in energy efficiency
* $6 billion for renewable energy and electric transmission technologies loan guarantees
* $6 billion for the cleanup of radioactive waste (mostly nuclear power plant sites)
* $5 billion for weatherizing modest-income homes
* $4.5 billion for the Office of Electricity and Energy Reliability to modernize nationçs electrical grid and smart grid.
* $4.5 billion for state and local governments to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings
* $3.4 billion for carbon capture experiments
* $3.25 billion for the Western Area Power Administration for power transmission system upgrades.
* $2.5 billion for energy efficiency research
* $2 billion for manufacturing of advanced car battery (traction) systems and components.
* $3.2 billion toward Energy Efficency and Conservation Block Grants
* $500 million for training of green-collar workers (by the Department of Labor)
* $400 million for electric vehicle technologies
* $300 million for federal vehicle fleets, for acquiring electric vehicles, includiing plug-in hybrid vehicles.
* $300 million to buy energy efficient appliances
* $300 million for reducing diesel fuel emissions
* $300 million for state and local governments to purchase energy efficient vehicles
* $250 million to increase energy efficiency in low-income housing
* $600 million to cleanup hazardous waste that threaten health and the environment
* $200 million to cleanup petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks
* $100 million to evaluate and cleanup brownfield land
* $400 million for the Geothermal Technologies Program
Overall the recovery package is estimated to produce 69,000 jobs for Missouri, based on averaging working-age population, employment in 2007 and employment by industrial sector in 2007. Just to do some simple math, if the energy provisions are 6.3% of the total bill, then that comes to about 4,300 jobs in the energy sector in Missouri.
To find federal contracts within Missouri, go to the Fedbiz website (http://www.fbo.gov) and type in Missouri or visit https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=list&tab=list&pageID=3. Currently the site requests bids for mowing, rip rap, dairy products, rental housing, bulldozer repair, surgical suite construction, crushed rock, a grouse survey, stream bank stabilization, demolition, painting, sewage pumping, paving, solid waste disposal, and construction of 5 station urban assault course. Specific recover fund projects are tagged. One energy-related project is LEED & Photovoltaic Features of the Design-Build Neosho NFH Visitor Center/Admin Building.
Other federal energy-related efforts include the elimination of the passive loss exemption for oil and gas properties, the percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas, and the expensing of tangible drilling costs - which should save around $30 billion or about 60% of the cost of the proposed energy projects. The president has also issued orders to finalize appliance efficiency standards by August of this year and a rule presribing increased fuel economy for 2011 model cars
Federal website - http://www.recovery.gov
Missouri's website - http://transform.mo.gov/
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
March 17-19 - Missouri Community Forestry Council Annual Conference - Courtyard Marriot, Columbia -http://www.mocommunitytrees.com/whatsgoingon.html
March 19 - Candidate Forum (School Board and City Wards 2 & 6) - Daniel Boone Regional Library, Columbia 6 pm -http://lwvcolumbiaboonecalendar.pbwiki.com/
March 21 - Osage group Sierra Club Indian Hills Park CleanUp - off Clark Lane - greg.leonard AT missouri.sierraclub.org
March 21 - Columbia Farmer's Market Opens - Clinkscales and Ash (behind the ARC) - http://farmersmarket.missouri.org/
March 28 - Earth Hour 8:30 pm Local Time - Turn off the lights for one hour - http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php
April 4 - Chasing the Beautiful Butterfly - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 1 - 4 pm - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, register at 573-449-7402
April 4, 18 - Household Hazardous Waste Collection - 1313 Lakeview Ave, 9 am to 1 pm - pw-volunteer@gocolumbiamo.com if you would like to volunteer
April 6 - Endandgered and Invasive Species in the Missouri River Region - Daniel Boone Regional Library, Columbia, 7 pm -http://www.moriver.org/
April 11 - Native Plant Sale - Bradford Farm - http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/events/
April 11 - Treasure Hunting with a Twist (Letterboxing, Geocaching, Scavenger Hunts and Hidden in Plain Sight) - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park 12-4 pm - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, register at 573-449-7402
April 15 - Osage Group Sierra Club Katy Trail Bike Ride - Coopers Landing - greg.leonard@missouri.sierraclub.org
April 19 - Earth Day - noon to 7 pm, MU Peace Park and Downtown Columbia - http://www.columbiaearthday.org/
April 21 - International Night Sky (Lyrid Meteor Shower) - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 6:30 - 8:30 pm - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, register at 573-449-7402
April 22-23 - Missouri Energy Summit - MU Jesse Auditorium, Reynolds Alumni Center, Carnahan Quad - http://www.umsystem.edu/summits/
April 25- Clean Up Columbia - http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/clean-up_columbia.php
April 25 - Where the Wildflowers Grow - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 1 - 4 pm - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, register at 573-449-7402
April 25, 26, May 2,3, 9, 10, 16 - Devil's Icebox Wild Cave Tours - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, day-long, adventure-style, strenuous, fees apply - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, register at 573-449-7402
May 2-9 - Annual Mayor's Bike, Walk, Wheel Challenge - Columbia- http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
May 4 - Missouri River Flood Plain Ecology - Daniel Boone Regional Library, Columbia, 7 pm - http://www.moriver.org/
May 10 - North American Migration Count - 573-442-1481
May 16 - Household Hazardous Waste Collection - 1313 Lakeview Ave, 9 am to 1 pm - pw-volunteer@gocolumbiamo.com if you would like to volunteer
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION: 573-529-9273, Meet 3rd Thu http://www.columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org 3rd Thursdays 7 pm Columbia Public Library
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org 2nd Tues, 7 pm, Bryant Cabin
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GET ABOUT COLUMBIA: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/GetAbout_Columbia/index.php
GREEKS GOING GREEN: new group for fraternities and sororities at MU sauzp5@mizzou.edu
GREEN SANCTUARY: 1st Fridays, 7:00 pm UU Church 2615 Shepard Blvd alternates green movies and discussions g_baka2002@yahoo.com
GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off/ buy 1906 Monroe St. Columbia Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Sat 8-1 1pm,
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE ENERGY: http://www.mosafeenergy.org/Content/ first Tuesdays, 7:15, Peace Nook on Broadway
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave
SUSTAIN MIZZOU: http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.