This year marks another presidential election year, which means any and all economic topics are being addressed by either side in order to establish ground for their platform. Some topics grace the stage year after years as issues that are blown wide open for debate. And, in recent years the topic of green energy has been used by both Republican and Democratic parties to make a statement about economic priorities. In fact, often times green energy is used as a gateway topic into other topics, such as offshore drilling for oil and investing capital into new startups.

The question that stands on the green energy front this year is: "will green energy be a major factor at the polls?" As in recent years, we've heard input from both sides of the coin this year, but more so than in past years. However, that being said, the topic of green energy isn't exactly being pushed – rather thrown between the two parties as more of a jab at agendas and spending.

Republicans have traditionally not been in favor of government spending on green energy initiatives, believing it a job for private investors or traditional bank loans. Democrats, on the other hand, have usually been in favor of government support for these programs, claiming that they will be the eventuality of a new, renewable national energy source. Regardless of delegations, it can't be denied that many projects have been voted into being by the government, while many have also been shot down before they could take form.

Of the projects that have been passed, a substantial amount of money has gone into the creation of new green energy outlets. In the last four years alone, that dollar amount reaches about $90 billion. According to official Whitehouse documents, the monetary breakdown looks a little something like this:

• $29 billion spent on energy efficiency focuses, including $5 billion for improvements to homes and apartments designated as low-income households.
• $21 billion for renewable electricity generation. This includes projects like wind turbines, solar panels and other green energy power plants.
• $10 billion spent on the modernization of power grids. The largest chunk of this cash went to "smart meters," which read themselves instead of relying on human meter readers.
• $6 billion was generated to establish factories that make batteries for electric cars and other components of eco-friendly vehicles.
• $18 billion for trains and other public transportation services.
• $3 billion went into research on how to trap and break down carbon dioxide molecules.
• $3 billion for scientific advancements in green energy and on-the-job training for people working in green energy settings.
• $2 billion to build and maintain green energy products.

This dollar breakdown has been the source of debate for both sides during the recent presidential campaigns. Whether or not they believe the spending has been done justly is irrelevant, however, because when it comes time to hit the poles and vote, the true validation of past and future green spending will fall on the shoulders of the American citizen. In the minds of many, this in itself will make the concept of green energy a hot button issue for the first time ever in a presidential election.