More money proposed for clean energy investments

The US government will be spending additional money on green projects in a number of sectors. These investments are designed to spur growth in the development of renewable or 'clean' fuels. According to this Marketwatch article (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/uncle-sam-funding-clean-coal-biofuel-via-grants-2009-12-11?reflink=MW_news_stmp ) the proposal from congress lays out a 2.5 billion increase in tax credits for manufacturing companies investing in solar, wind and geothermal energy, as well as technologies for storage, transmission, renewable fuels, conservation, plug-in hybrid vehicles, carbon capture and sequestration to reduce greenhouse gases. It also would give out 1.6 billion in grants for coal and biofuel plants to have been operating at low emissions standards. This proposal is an expansion of government funding for such coal and biofuel operations, as they have already granted billions of dollars to large companies who are in compliance. What I like a lot about the new funding is that there are individual grants in the area of 25 million that are specifically for the purpose of helping companies research more efficient and clean ways of producing energy. So long as it is used responsibly I think this funding for private sector research and investment is a very positive thing and large investments by the government, in the billions of dollars, are also good signs to other nations who might be skeptical of our willingness to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to climate change.

-Damen King