Staff reports

Carolinas Blue Skies & Green Jobs Initiative project will create jobs, limit pollution, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation’s vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative-fuel and energy-efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year.

“The Clean Cities program is helping give state and local governments the tools they need to build a greener transportation system that will create new jobs and help to put America on the path to a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu.

The projects announced by Chu will support a combined total of more than 9,000 light, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and establish 542 refueling locations across the country. And with the cost-share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.

Last week, the Department of Energy also announced that it had selected 23 projects for up to $15 million in annual appropriations funding. Like the Recovery Act-funded projects, the annual Clean Cities projects include grants for vehicles, infrastructure, and education.

Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership that works to reduce America’s petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.

For a complete list of awardees, visit www.energy.gov/recovery/cleancities.htm