WASHINGTON - The House and Senate recently completed a final version of the $789 billion economic recovery legislation which includes grants to aid the reduction of diesel emissions and promotion of electric vehicles and other transportation electrification projects, mentioned in a press release from Climate Communities.

The legislation includes $3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program; $2.8 billion will be distributed by formula to eligible cities (35,000 or greater in population) and counties (200,000 or greater in population, and $400 million will be available in competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This funding will help local governments implement strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions and reduce total energy use.  Please click on the following below to download a fact sheet on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program recently prepared by U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.climatecommunities.us/documents/eecbg_program_alert.pdf

The final economic recovery legislation also includes: 

• $400 million for DOE grants for electric vehicles and other transportation electrification projects.  

• $300 million for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants to reduce diesel emissions.

• $300 million for DOE Clean Cities grants to promote more efficient vehicles.

• $5 billion for DOE weatherization assistance.

• $3.1 billion for the DOE State Energy Program.

• $750 million in Department of Labor job training grants, including $500 million for green jobs.