Biden highlights energy efficiency

Vice President Biden hit the road today to tout the economic stimulus package's help for weatherization and energy efficiency programs.

He toured Serious Materials Chicago, a window factory that is reopening, responding to increased demand for energy-saving building products. The factory previously housed Republic Windows and Doors, which closed in December, prompting a highly publicized protest by workers against the company and against Bank of America, which had withdrawn its financing despite receiving a taxpayer bailout.

“What I have seen here today at Serious Materials Chicago inspires me and brings to life the real impact the Recovery Act is already having, just in the short time since our work began,” Biden, who was joined by Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, and company CEO Kevin Surace, said in a statement. “Everywhere I go, I am hearing stories just like this one – stories of hard workers filling good jobs, our $8 billion investment in weatherization and energy programs re-opening doors and our tax credits creating new demand for energy-saving materials. This is the story of our new economy - and this is the story of the Recovery Act.”

Under the $787 billion stimulus package, $8 billion is available for state and local weatherization and energy efficiency efforts through the Department of Energy -- $5 billion through the Weatherization Assistance Program and another $3 billion for the State Energy Program.