In February 2009, the U.S. government passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – a bill intended to create new jobs and spark economic activity. Roughly $94 billion of the $787 billion act was set aside for invesments in renewable energy.

A new report from SBI Energy, a Maryland-based market research firm, details how ARRA has helped advance the use of clean energy throughout the country:

• Aided by ARRA investments, the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) reports that domestic manufacturing capacity for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules is forecasted to grow from less than one GW per year in 2008 to nearly 4 GW per year in 2012.
• ARRA investments are accelerating the rate of innovation in solar photovoltaics and according to the CEA, gains could drive down the costs of solar panels by as much as 50 percent over the next five years.
• U.S. wind power capacity grew 40 percent in 2009 over the prior year, despite weak economic and investment conditions. In July 2010, the CEA reported that ARRA was responsible for approximately 6 GW of wind capacity installation that might not otherwise have occurred in 2009.
• An April 2010, the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) survey indicated a 26 percent increase in new projects under development in 2009 and concludes that the stimulus funding played an important role in propelling geothermal growth amidst recessionary economic conditions.

Granted, the CEA advises the President and his administration. Thus it’s not entirely surprising the group is highlights the gains achieved under ARRA. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to argue with the data showing growth in renewable energy and green jobs over the course of 2009 and 2010. SBI Energy, for its part, estimates that the ARRA solar grant program has led to over $13 billion in renewable energy investments and has led to the construction of more than 650 renewable energy projects across the United States.

For more info on the types of projects ARRA helped, check out the following stories and resources on federal grants, military solar installations, energy efficient appliance rebates and local solar installations. Arguably, ARRA helped the U.S. become one of nine countries worldwide to surpass 250 MW of solar PV by 2010.

Also, you can track ARRA spending here.