Green Options

Jon Stewart covers the bank bailout hearings on Capitol Hill.

Obama to critics calling the modernization of the federal fleet of vehicles as “pork”: Are you serious?

In a presidential memorandum to the Secretary of Energy, President Obama has ordered the DOE to come into compliance with three decade-old energy efficiency laws, starting this year with nine categories of products, including ovens, vending machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers and light bulbs.

Spending in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on environmental projects being debated in Congress right now already includes $100 billion in ‘green stimulus.’ But because of the stated preference for so-called ’shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects, long-term infrastructure projects like mass transit and a smart grid may suffer.

There’s a lot of excitement out there, especially in the green sector, about President Obama’s plans to improve the economy. That much of the stimulus is also environmentally friendly means more growth in the green sector. And that means more green jobs.

Part of President Obama’s proposed economic stimulus plan includes investing in smart grid infrastructure and what better horse to hitch your trailer to right now if you’re a big American company looking to launch your new smart grid advertising campaign?

Oh, and it also helps if you own the network.

Here’s an idea that’s good for the planet and so much more: it’s a new blog I’ve just discovered called Stimulus Bike. Its mission? To “Improve the health of our economy, ourselves, our environment, and our wallets!”

Stimulus Bike says it wants to see economic stimulus funds work to promote cycling, something that could save us money over the long term (less gas money, fewer car repairs, etc.) and promote a healthier, more sustainable way of getting from here to there.

Now, under President Barack Obama’s currently proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the average citizen isn’t expecting to see a check in the mail a la last year’s economic boost effort (which didn’t work anyway). However, it’s possible you could benefit from reduced tax withholding in your paycheck. Stimulus Bike would like to see you invest those dollars in a two-wheeler of some kind:

the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee approved $20 billion in energy tax credits and related financial incentives as part of the Obama administration’s plan to revive the American economy.

President-elect Obama has detailed his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Among other efforts in the plan, major initiatives include the intention to create 3 million jobs in the United States by doubling the production of alternative energy; investments in public transit infrastructure, and the weatherization of 75% of federal buildings and aiding up to two million low-income American homes to do the same (and thus save money).

Head past the break to view the video.

South Korea becomes the latest municipality to jump on the green job bandwagon.

The big news this weekend is Obama’s bold announcement to enact an economic stimulus package and, as those of us in the green movement noted…in the process a commitment to move forward with a green agenda.

For a lighter look at what we think he should do, check out this video from Zaproot.