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There once was a small town, home to a couple thousand people, whose economy was in a steady decline. So, with the help of government funding, the town installed solar, wind, and hydro power systems. Over the next few years, its economy would boom, it would grow over 140 new jobs, and it would come to be powered by 100% renewable energy.
Sound like some kind of a modern day, green stimulus bill inspired fairy tale? Well, it's not. This is the true story of the city of Varese in Italy, population 2,600. And it happened more than five years ago.
A bigger city in Austria called Gussing drew itself out of poverty and into a booming economy much the same way.
The point of all this is that stories like this may be occurring right here in the US, with even greater frequency than in Europe. In fact, it's exactly what Obama hopes will happen as he drives more funding to alternative energy. And sure, it's a best case scenario, but it's still very much worth understanding just how all this worked out.
It started with the city government taking bold strides: the mayor of Varese took the initiative to apply for funding from the EU, which had incentives available for purchasing and building renewable energy systems—much like the US does now, thanks to the stimulus bill. They surveyed the land and found the hilly terrain was ideal for wind turbines. And presto, prosperity! Okay, so it wasn't that simple—there was plenty of red tape, consulting, and hard work. But it paid off.
It can all seem rather abstract, with all the talk about green jobs and alternative energy projects—sometimes it seems as if it's all a far-off government game. It's not. If you live in a small town with a flagging economy, ask your mayor, or local government what the stimulus bill could mean for your city. There's money allotted for grants for alternative energy specifically for states and local governments. A forward looking mayor could very well pull his city out of the doldrums in coming years, powering the new economy with renewable energy.
And if it seems farfetched—just think of little ol' Varese. And its unlikely, booming economy.
For more info on how Obama's stimulus bill can help you out, take a look at this Stimulus Tax Credit Guide.
