EPA Hands $100 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Colorado

Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien said the stimulus funding is part of a pattern of greening across the state. "This week, we have had three announcements of new businesses and new jobs through wind turbines, solar technology and water technology. We know that the New Energy Economy means a healthy economy and a healthy environment," she said.

EPA Acting Regional Administrator Carol Rushin said the Recovery Act funding includes more than $65 million for improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

EPA is evaluating pending proposals for millions of dollars in Superfund site cleanup, as much as $2.5 million to remediate leaking underground storage tanks and up to $2 million for revitalizing brownfield sites in Colorado.

In a ceremony at EPA's regional office in Denver today, Rushin and Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, announced $1.73 million for clean diesel projects under the Recovery Act.

"This is how we create new, green jobs while we protect human health and the environment," said Rushin. "The Recovery Act will put Colorado to work by improving water infrastructure, cleaning up and redeveloping Superfund and brownfields sites, and developing clean diesel technologies that bolster the state's economy."

"These projects not only create and protect jobs, but cut costs and increase demand for raw materials, goods and services across the state," she said.

The state agency will use the funds to retrofit school buses using engine pre-heaters, diesel oxidation catalysts and closed crankcase filtration units.

Colorado's first hybrid diesel-electric school bus at work, January 13, 2009. (Photo courtesy Adams 12 Five Star Schools)

The grant also will help fund the purchase of hybrid-diesel electric school buses.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools of Thornton put Colorado's first hybrid school bus into operation on January 13, 2009. Test results indicate a 70 percent increase in fuel economy and a 40 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as compared to a standard diesel bus.

Diesel engines emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, both of which contribute to serious public health problems such as premature death, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, millions of lost work days, and numerous other health impacts, the EPA says.

"Reducing exposure to toxic diesel exhaust for Colorado school children is a priority of the Colorado Clean Diesel Program," said Martin.

The state has already retrofitted about 1,000 school buses through the Colorado Clean Diesel Program and Martin said with this funding "We hope to retrofit thousands more."

In addition, the EPA announced the availability of $7.3 million for competitive clean diesel grants in EPA Region 8, which includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. These Recovery Act grants, funded through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, are available to qualified applicants through April 28, 2009.

The Regional Air Quality Council, the air quality planning agency for the Denver metropolitan area, today received a $455,000 DERA grant from the EPA to pursue clean diesel outcomes. This grant was awarded as part of a competition EPA conducted last year.

"The Regional Air Quality Council has implemented many clean diesel projects to improve air quality," said council chair Andrew Spielman. "We look forward to expanding our diesel emission reduction efforts, which will not only positively impact public health in the region, but will also boost regional job retention and creation. We view the availability of additional Recovery Act funds as an opportunity to dig deeper to further reduce diesel emissions in the area."

In awarding the grants, preference will be given to projects that can be started and completed expeditiously. The EPA plans to select grantees and provide funding by June. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Rebecca Russo in EPA Region 8 at 303-312-6757.

Click here for more information about clean diesel competitive grants offered under the Recovery Act.

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