By Catherine Girardeau
Green Right Now
Renewable energy companies are no doubt pleased that the proposed economic stimulus plan being considered by Congress could double the nation’s clean energy capacity — enough to power six million American homes.
The White House agenda calls for even more progress: The administration wants incentives to increase private sector spending in renewable energy; a cap-and-trade system that would make heavy industries like coal-burning power plants pay for carbon pollution and a declared goal that America reduce greenhouse gases 80 percent by 2050.
It’s shaping up to be a perfect storm for companies that can figure out how to generate renewable energy, including solar thermal companies which intend to compete with wind and direct solar as large-scale energy providers, despite the cool economy.
