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Illinois receives economic recovery funding from U.S.EPA to reduce diesel emissions, create jobs

Release Date: 04/08/2009
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA051

Clean diesel projects reduce early deaths, asthma attacks, other health problems

(Chicago, Ill. - April 8, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for the people in Illinois, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1.73 million to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The funding can be used to support clean diesel projects and loan programs to address the nation's existing fleet of over 11 million diesel engines.

"This Recovery Act funding will provide a great boost to Clean Air investments in Illinois," said EPA Acting Region 5 Administrator Bharat Mathur. "This money will help the state to bolster its economy, protect public health and create green jobs that improve air quality."

The funds provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) will go to the state's clean diesel and clean school bus programs: http://www.illinoisgreenfleets.org. Projects eligible for this grant program include retrofit technologies, replacement of large diesel vehicles with hybrids, engine replacement with cleaner engines, and equipment to reduce or eliminate idling for school districts, local governments, businesses and truck owners and operators.

In addition to helping create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects would reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year. It's estimated that the health benefits from diesel emissions reductions outweigh the costs by a ratio of up to 13-to-1.

Under ARRA's state clean diesel funding program, $88.2 million is divided equally through a noncompetitive allocation process, meaning that all 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive $1.73 million.

States, local governments, non-profits and tribal agencies can also compete for a portion of $206 million under ARRA's national clean diesel funding program.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at http://Recovery.gov .

• For information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit https://www.epa.gov/recovery.
• For information about EPA's clean diesel initiatives, visit https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.
• For information about clean diesel initiatives in Region 5, visit https://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/