US invests millions in improving air quality

Protecting air quality was one of the principal motivations behind yesterday's announcement from the US Environmental Protection Agency that $20 million in Recovery Act Funding will be invested into the Clean Diesel Finance Program.

These recovery act grants will fund the purchase of new, cleaner or retrofitted vehicles and equipment, and create and retain jobs in communities based in Houston, Oregon and Louisville.

EPA Administrator Lisa P Jackson said that the funding will help jump-start clean diesel innovation to significantly reduce the health burdens of asthma, birth defects and other issues linked to fossil fuels - all while creating jobs for US workers.

"This is part of the nationwide clean energy transition that is cleaning up the air we breathe and creating jobs all across America," she stated.

The recovery act allotted a total of $300 million (£185 million) for the National Clean Diesel Campaign, $30 million of which will fund competitive grant scheme the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program.

Written by Joseph Hutton