President Obama's program to fund renewable energy initiatives is set to expire at the end of the year. Overall funding of clean energy and clean technology projects is expected to decline in 2012. The program backed $32.9 billion in energy projects and encouraged companies like Google and Citiback to become equity partners in wind and solar.

Renewal of the grants under the program is not likely, given investigations into Solyndra, which received $535 million under the program, and the general economic climate. Google has recently announced it will end its alternative energy initiatives. Citigroup has said it would be unable to continue its own participation once the grants are unavailable.

The tax breaks associated with developing solar and wind projects will continue. While the program generally has support in Congress, locating the funds to continue it remains the largest challenge. Approximately 760 trade groups and energy companies will be requesting Congress extend the program for another year.

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