MNN - Mother Nature Network

Last week Matt Rogers, senior advisor for Recovery Act Implementation, hosted a webinar that provides an in-depth look at how the ARRA is benefiting clean energy research and technology through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE has been allocated $37 billion in funding through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding has gone to a variety of programs including green jobs training initiatives, advanced biofuels research, smart grid technology upgrades, and several other projects that focus on clean energy.

 

All of these projects will help the DOE meet its ARRA goals, which include creating good long-term jobs, strengthening the nation’s economy, improving the environment, and enhancing national security. Of the $37 billion in funding, projects that focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy have received the most funding - $16.8 billion.

 

The next largest chunk of funding has been awarded to projects that clean up cold war nuclear sites. The $6 billion of funding in this category is providing the tools and manpower needed to clean up sites like the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. However, funding for these projects has brought up a new question that needs to be addressed – how hazardous are some of these green jobs?

 

The DOE ARRA clean energy update webinar is approximately 38 minutes long and is available to the public at no charge. After a quick registration, the webinar will begin. It provides some good insight into how the DOE is using Recovery Act dollars to help address two of our nation’s biggest concerns – the economy and the environment.