I always wonder about the motives of those who describe President Bush as in the hands of Big Oil. If only because his legislative record vis a vis renewable energy is highly supportive. This started when he was Governor of Texas, whose renewables programme is growing at a tremendous pace - thanks in no small measure to the Renewables Portfolio Standard he signed into action in 1998.

So the news that the Solar America Initiative will have increased annual funding from $80 m to $148 m comes as no great surprise.

The Solar America Initiative (SAI) is a broad national program designed to encourage competition throughout the solar industry by lowering the cost of photovoltaic units and fostering innovation of new technologies. These are worthy aims. The more pertinent question is then not about Bush. But is this an efficient way of using public funds?