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{
  "authors": [
    "John P. Millhone"
  ],
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  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
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    "Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics"
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    "North America",
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    "Political Reform",
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Source: Getty

Other

Weatherization—A Test Case

The Department of Energy’s Weatherization program is receiving $5 billion under the economic stimulus plan. Spending this money effectively depends on accelerated delivery, expanded participation, and long-term sustainability strategies.

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By John P. Millhone
Published on Feb 25, 2009
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Program

Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics

The Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program explores how climate change and the responses to it are changing international politics, global governance, and world security. Our work covers topics from the geopolitical implications of decarbonization and environmental breakdown to the challenge of building out clean energy supply chains, alternative protein options, and other challenges of a warming planet.

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The Department of Energy’s Weatherization program, a 30-year-old program that improves the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families, is receiving more than a 20-fold increase in funding in the economic stimulus plan. Can this money be spent effectively or is this throwing money at a feel-good program?

The initial answer depends on an accelerated delivery of the expanded program—training the energy retrofit technicians, marketing the program to an enlarged number of recipients, and streamlining its federal–state–local administration. In parallel, the program must expand the participation of its current public and private partners, particularly in southern states. The longterm success depends on constructing links with a broader movement for building energy efficiency, on playing a key role in revitalizing local communities, and on dramatizing the connection between building energy efficiency and climate change. In the end, success will depend on how success is defined—how we balance the urgent need to infuse spending and create jobs with our sustainable future energy, societal, and environmental goals.
 

About the Author

John P. Millhone

Former Visiting Scholar, Energy and Climate Program

Millhone is currently evaluating and commenting on U.S. energy policies and focusing on clean energy and economic stimulus initiatives. He is also providing analysis to the U.S.–China provincial and municipal energy efficiency management program.

    Recent Work

  • Article
    Developing a Plan B to the Kyoto Protocol

      John P. Millhone

  • Article
    Russia's Fires Breathe New Life into Climate Picture

      John P. Millhone

John P. Millhone
Former Visiting Scholar, Energy and Climate Program
John P. Millhone
Political ReformClimate ChangeNorth AmericaUnited States

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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