June 1, 2009, - 4:35 pm
Govt Helping GM: OUT! Govt Wasting Gazillions on “Green”: IN!
By Debbie Schlussel
So, today General Motors filed for bankruptcy after a few gazillions in government bailouts. GM is officially now the Obama administration’s bitch and should just change its name to Yugo.
But while GM is down and out, ya know what’s in? Wasting gazillions in your tax money on “green grants,” that’s what. Git yer hands on some of that green, er . . . green. As in, $3.2 billion of the stuff, and they gotta get rid of it by June 25th, kinda like some Chrysler dealers gotta get rid of some cars.
Imagine billions of federal dollars at your fingertips if you can just come up with a plan to go green.
States and cities across the nation are scrambling to meet a series of deadlines to tap into economic stimulus money available for energy-saving programs.
A looming deadline: June 25, when local governments apply for a share of the $3.2 billion in block grants for energy efficiency and conservation.
“It’s coming up quickly,” says Cathy Polasky, Minneapolis director of economic development.
* At least $500 million for green jobs training.
* $9.75 billion to renovate schools.
* $5 billion to weatherize low-income homes.
* $300 million to replace old appliances with “Energy Star” products.
“All of a sudden, dollars are coming from different areas all at once,” says Sadhu Johnston, chief environmental officer for the city of Chicago, which launched a climate action plan last fall. “For the first time, there’s a significant package of federal resources to help us meet our goals on everything from affordable housing to infrastructure.”
Today, 150 people from 20 cities are expected at Green Boot Camp at Harvard University. The two-day training session is organized and sponsored by Living Cities, a group of 21 of the world’s largest foundations that aim to improve cities and the lives of low-income people.
The boot camp “is to ensure they’ve developed the right strategies and financing … and to manage stimulus money,” says Ben Hecht, CEO and president of Living Cities.
The session is bringing together parties that rarely interact — from state and city officials to housing authorities, economic and workforce development agencies and utility companies.
Already, the stimulus funds have forged unprecedented partnerships, Polasky says.
She had never met half the people who came from her area to attend the boot camp. Since the race for stimulus money began in February, she says, “I go home every night and tell myself, ‘Well, I met another 100 new people.’ ”
On tap at the boot camp are discussions on financing strategies and marketing, building codes and energy conservation incentives.
“Every single city we invited accepted,” says Stockton Williams, director of Living Cities’ Green Economy Initiatives, which is covering expenses. “This economic recovery bill is a one-time infusion of funding. Now, we need to make sure cities set up systems that will be sustained.”
Barf! Green Boot Camp at Harvard? Money they’re just giving away and training cities how to waste? Sickening.
How ’bout giving a tax cut to the people or letting businesses and private enterprise show some “green” love? That would be too obvious, too logical. Too too . . . .
This is just throwing away money for a fad: “green.”
One more example of the destruction of a formerly viable, vibrant industry in favor of taxpayer funded fantasy. I am not sure who is more disgusting; the recipients or the perpetrators.
Mark P on June 1, 2009 at 5:38 pm