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A New, Green Stimulus Throughout the President’s Budget

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A closer look at President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal shows how the White House intends to initiate a “green stimulus” through not just the Department of Energy (DOE) but other federal agencies as well.

Though not a comprehensive accounting of non-DOE energy spending, a quick survey of the President’s budget proposal reveals the following examples:

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of Defense

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Department of the Interior

Department of State

National Science Foundation

A Green Energy Stimulus by Another Name

There are other green spending programs that do not have a specific dollar amount tied to them, but we can all rest assured that there will be costs. For example, several Environmental Protection Agency programs include initiatives to support EnergyStar programs, decrease greenhouse gases, develop regulatory programs for emissions on our highways, and research green technology.

Perhaps the energy research and technologies President Obama wants to invest in will provide “high-value jobs” and launch America as the global leader in profitable and efficient clean energy. Americans have achieved such great heights before. But that initiative belongs with the American people, not with federal departments and agencies. Efficiency should be rewarded in the marketplace with lower costs and higher productivity. Consumers and producers are fully capable of deciding which energy technologies best suit their needs.

Facing high debts and recognizing that attempts to subsidize green energy have been unsuccessful, other countries are removing funding for their green stimulus programs. President Obama, on the other hand, is doubling down.

Katie Tubb is a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. Click here for more information on interning at Heritage.

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