The President’s FY 10 budget request for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reflects a new focus on community development and redevelopment as a key part of the solution to climate change and energy independence. New programs are proposed to advance "sustainable and inclusive growth patterns at the metropolitan level, communities of choice at the neighborhood scale and energy efficiency at the building scale" and to promote "affordable, livable and sustainable living environments." A new Energy Innovation Fund is proposed to re-engineer the FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage program and test innovative on-bill utility financing or billing arrangements to provide streamlined energy audit and technical services to participating property owners. A new Sustainable Communities Initiative – funded from an increase in the Community Development and Block Grant program – would integrate transportation and housing planning. The proposed initiative is intended to produce “walkable, transit-oriented, mixed income and mixed use communities” that reduce transportation costs and save energy by reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). It also includes $40 million in community challenge grants to encourage local leaders to make changes to zoning, land use rules, and building codes. The budget includes $2.4 million for a new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities to be the lead on energy and sustainability issues, reporting directly to the Deputy Secretary.

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The President’s FY 10 budget request for the Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) includes programs to help the country's youth move into the growing fields of renewable energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, and home retrofitting. Youth Activities (Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998), which received $1.2 billion under ARRA, would receive level funding from FY 09 appropriations. A new Green Jobs Innovation Fund would support competitive grant opportunities to help workers receive job training in green industry sectors and occupations and access green career pathways. The Career Pathways Innovation Fund is slated for a $10 million increase over the amount awarded in FY 09 appropriations. Competitive grants provided by this Fund will continue support for community colleges provided by Community-Based Job Training Grants (CBJTG), but will focus on helping individuals of varying skill levels enter and pursue careers in high-demand and emerging industries such as clean energy.

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On May 7, 2009, President Obama released his FY 2010 Federal Budget Request. The FY 2010 budget includes $513 million dollars for USDA Farm Bill Energy Programs ($391 million in mandatory funds and $122 in additional discretionary funds). This represents an increase of $242 million over FY 2009 appropriation levels, an increase of 89.3%.

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The President’s FY 10 budget request includes $73.3 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund construction, maintenance, and operation activities for federally-funded highways, railways, public transit systems, and air transportation. This represents an increase of approximately $1.8 billion (2.5 percent above FY 09 appropriations).

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The President’s FY 10 budget request for DOE includes: • $145 million increase in the Solar Energy Program (83% increase from FY 09 appropriations) • $97.7 million increase in the Building Technologies Program (70% increase from FY 09 appropriations) • $20.0 million increase in the Wind Energy Program (36% increase from FY 09 appropriations) • $60.1 million increase in the Vehicle Technologies Program (22% increase from FY 09 appropriations) • $18.0 million increase in the Biomass and Biorefinery Systems R&D (8.3% increase from FY 09 appropriations) • $6.0 million increase in the Geothermal Energy Program (13.6% increase from FY 09 appropriations) • $101 million cut in the Fuel Cell Technologies Program (formerly Hydrogen Technology) (60% decrease from FY 09 appropriations) • $10.0 million cut in the Water Power Program (25% decrease from FY 09 appropriations) • $115 million in new funding for RE-ENERGYSE, a new program undertaken by the DOE to “build the foundation of a vibrant American workforce to participate in the green economy.”

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The American Planning Association (APA) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) are pleased to announce the launch of the Planners Energy and Climate Database, an online tool to help planners, policymakers, and allied professionals find information relevant to addressing energy and climate issues at the local, regional, and state level. The database features more than 150 resources to help communities improve energy efficiency, expand renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. More entries are being added regularly.

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Audits are required for energy efficiency projects funded by REAP costing over $50,000. Parties seeking audits must pay 25 percent of audit costs. State, tribal or local government, land-grant colleges and universities, or other institutions of higher education, rural electric cooperatives, and public power entities are eligible to receive funds.

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On January 30, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) announced up to $25 million (subject to appropriations) in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value biobased products.

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On December 22, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its intention to provide up to $200 million (subject to appropriations) from FY09-FY14 to support the development of biorefineries producing advanced biofuels, such as butanol, green gasoline, and synthetic diesel made from algae, cellulosic energy crops, wastes, residues, and other biomass feedstocks.

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One of the first and most important jobs for the new Congress in January will be to pass an economic stimulus bill to jump start the economy, create jobs, and revitalize American industry – a tall order, which could cost between $500 billion and $1 trillion. Therefore, it is critical for this legislation to fund projects that not only will create jobs and economic activity in the near term but also will strengthen our long-term economic security, and that includes addressing the urgent threat of climate change.

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