Green Stimulus Expected by Friday

Well, we finally got an economic stimulus bill agreed, and it looks like it is going to be pretty good in terms of green -- much better than I expected actually. The $789 billion economic-recovery bill is expected to pass the Senate and House by the end of the week. President Obama hopes to sign it into law by Presidents' Day.

The final bill contains upwards of $62 billion in direct spending on green initiatives and $20 billion in green tax incentives. Here is a quick breakdown courtesy of Grist:

Energy transmission and alternative energy research:

* $11 billion for smart grid
* $7.5 billion for renewable energy and transmission-line construction
* $400 million for the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Project Agency for Energy for the development of alternative energy sources and efficiency

Efficiency:

* $4.5 billion for energy-efficiency improvements to federal buildings
* $6.3 billion for local government energy-efficiency grants
* $2.25 billion for energy-efficiency retrofits for low-income housing
* $2.25 billion for the HOME Investment Partners Program to retrofit community low-income housing
* $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program for efficiency in low-income households
* $510 million for energy-efficiency retrofits for Native American housing programs
* $420 million for energy-efficiency improvements at the Department of Defense
* $300 million for Department of Defense research on energy efficiency at military installations
* $300 million for the appliance rebate program for Energy Star products

Mass transit and advanced automobiles:

* $8.4 billion for transit capital assistance programs
* $8 billion for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail
* $300 million for the purchase of more alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles for the federal fleet
* $300 million in grants and loans for technologies that reduce diesel emissions

Green jobs training:

* $500 million for green jobs programs through the Workforce Investment Act

The thing about this bill that really surprises me is that all funding for coal and nuclear was dropped. I cannot believe that we were able to make the compromise to drop coal. I am just flabbergasted – I definitely expected the compromise to go the other way. In fact, it looks like when all is said and done, this bill is GREENER having gone through the conference between both houses then it was when it started. Kudos all around.

Review of Gunner Jeans from Volcom

I've been rocking Volcom jeans since before I can remember, and even though they are pretty big and mainstream now I still appreciate their clothes.

I bought a pair of these jeans a few months ago and they are awesome. They are made from reclaimed denim mixed with denim made from white oak during the "reclaiming process" (I have no idea what that entails).

Anyway, they are reclaimed, which is cool, and they are made the way denim was originally made, so that it changes color depending on where it is "stressed." Basically, that means that your jeans will start to have marks from where you use them most - so if you always keep your cell phone in your left pocket, an outline of your cell phone will begin to show up there. Pretty cool concept. Mine have a nice square patch in my back right pocket where I keep my wallet, and the bottom of the right pant leg is faded from where I roll them up to bike around town. Pretty sweet theory -- my jeans, in time, have become a reflection of me. I like that.

Image provided by Volcom

Eco-Font for Your Computer

Got to love this - a dutch company called SPRANQ has come out with a new font that uses 20% less ink because it is potted like one of those awesome old-timey newspaper images. According to their website:

"After Dutch holey cheese, there now is a Dutch font with holes as well."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Which Side Are You On?

Great news: the AFL-CIO announced this morning that it is forming a new Center for Green Jobs at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

According to President John Sweeney, "the mission of the center is not only to engage public policy but to also move beyond that to help our labor unions implement real green jobs initiatives—initiatives that retain and create good union jobs, provide pathways to those jobs and assist with the design and implementation of training programs to prepare incumbent workers as well as job seekers for these family-sustaining careers."

I hope this new effort will accomplish the two goals it aims for -- to end once and for all the idea that job creation and environmentalism are inherently opposed, and too further the belief that a job cannot be truly green unless it is as sustainable for employee as it is for the planet.

Image provided by AFL-CIO

Obama Administration Cancels Drilling Leases in Utah

Ken Salazaar, in his first of what I hope will be many good environmental moves, has decided to cancel all of the oil drilling leases sold during the last weeks of the Bush administration. Koodos Ken -- this is what I like to see. Hopefully now we can move one step further and get this hero out of trouble.

Review of Cline Organic Cool Climate Syrah

I had this wine at one of my favorite restaurants a few weeks ago and I have to say I was very impressed with it. I am not (repeat - NOT) one of those unfortunate individuals who thinks that organic wine is inherently inferior. These poor saps are holding over their prejudices from a time when the only people making organic wine were people who knew a lot more about growing an organic grape than they did about making a good wine. This is no longer true, and I hope more winos like myself will try wines such as this Syrah and wake up to the incredible new world of good, organic wine.

I should probably make a clarification here - this is not the first good organic wine I have tasted. I find that, nowadays, it is pretty easy to find a good organic wine. This is however the first GREAT organic wine I have tasted. This wine would be fabulous organic or not, and the fact that it is organic just makes it that much cooler.

Some quick tasting notes - Very powerful, full on the pallate, but soft enough to go with spicy fish (I had a thai shrimp curry). Definite note of bacon fat (I love typing that) and smooth after-taste.

Go get this wine yo! Cline Cool Climate Syrah

Image provided by Cline Cellars