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Connecticut Receives Economic Recovery Funding to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Create Jobs

Release Date: 04/17/2009
Contact Information: Jeanethe Falvey, (617) 918-1020

(Boston, Mass. – April 17, 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 the State of Connecticut, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1.73 million to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP). 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 Connecticut,” said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator for EPA’s New England office. “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 (ARRA) of 2009 will go to a construction vehicle retrofit program to expand implementation of the Connecticut Clean Air Construction Initiative, to the establishment of an electrified truck stop to reduce the impact of drayage truck idling in and around the Port of New Haven and to a locomotive engine conversion project for a locomotive used as a switch engine at the rail yard in New Haven.

In addition to helping to 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.

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, 2009 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 Recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Connecticut, visit https://www.epa.gov/ne/eparecovery/index.html

For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

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