(Host) More federal stimulus money is flowing into Vermont.
This morning, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it’s granted more than $20 million to the state.
Some of the money will go toward cleaning up water supplies and the rest will clean up diesel emissions.
The bulk of the money will go toward improvements in public drinking water systems. The goal is to reduce the amount of pollution that enters the environment.
Governor Jim Douglas says there’s a pent-up demand for water improvement projects.
(Douglas) "We’ve identified about $380 million worth of projects that are needed through this revolving loan fund. So the $19.5 million grant will allow us to take advantage of some resources to get more projects done than we otherwise would be able to do during the next couple of years.”
(Host) Diesel emissions also will be cut through another grant from the EPA.
Ira Leighton is the acting regional EPA administrator. He says his agency will work with Vermont’s environmental agency, school districts and the forests department.
(Leighton) "The Vermont DEC is posed to address pollution from school buses and diesel generators by replacing and repowering older diesel engines and vehicles with models certified to meet cleaner standards."
(Host) The goal is to replace old school buses with new, cleaner vehicles. The EPA also hopes to replace power systems in sawmills.