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New Jersey Receives Economic Recovery Funding from U.S. EPA to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Create Jobs

Release Date: 04/08/2009
Contact Information: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, [email protected]

(New York, N.Y.) 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 New Jersey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1.73 million to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 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.

“These grants, coupled with money being given out competitively, will allow us to get New Jerseyans back to work while reducing one of the most prevalent sources of pollution in the country - diesel exhaust," said EPA Acting Region 2 Administrator George Pavlou. “The Recovery Act will help bolster New Jersey's economy and improve air quality for everyone."

The funds provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 will go to the state's N.J. Clean Construction program to retrofit construction vehicles that are privately or publicly owned and used specifically on projects conducted or funded under the N.J. Department of Transportation, N.J. Site Remediation or the N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust.

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 New Jersey, visit https://www.epa.gov/recovery

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

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