Is it a sign of the times? Instead of talking up expensive new renewable energy projects, it seems that a few of the leading voices in the renewable energy movement have shifted the attentions to more recession-friendly projects. Perhaps meaning to coincide with the President Elect's upcoming energy program, both Bill Clinton and T. Boone Pickens announced plans to start improving energy efficiency in buildings.On Saturday, Clinton announced that the Clinton Global Initiative and his home state of Arkansas will be teaming up to retrofit state building. Details on what exactly CGI planned to retrofit were somewhat hazy, but that's probably because they don't really know yet. One of the 7 initiatives highlighted by the foundation was to reduce energy use, and therefore greenhouse emissions in partner cities, now they have an entire state -- with all of its buildings and infrastructure -- as Arkansas is the first state to sign on.
Then, on Monday, the Pickens organization rolled out a new plank in the Pickens Plan manifesto, for the first time highlighting energy efficiency in buildings as a part of his overall energy independence scheme. The Pickens Plan has partnered up with giant building materials manufacturer Owens Corning to advance building more efficient structures. According to Owens Corning CEO Mike Thaman:
"Buildings consume 40 percent of our nation's energy. That's more than industry or transportation. Energy efficiency in homes and buildings is critical to the achievement of true energy independence."Not to say that it's all about the money here, but both of these foundations seem to be getting ready to cash in big on the Obama administration's new energy plan. A plan that will almost certainly award some lucrative contracts at a time when private investment capital is little tricky to get hold of.
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