Wisconsin will receive $16 million in clean energy funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Wednesday.
Wisconsin was awarded the maximum $15 million federal grant in support of an aggressive state effort to improve overall energy efficiency and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The state was awarded an additional $1 million competitive grant toward the development of an advanced distribution and retail network that will increase consumer access to biofuels such as biodiesel and E-85 ethanol.
""Wisconsin has the resources and skills to lead the nation in clean energy, and this major investment will make significant progress toward my goal of getting 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of our transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025,"" Doyle said.
Doyle said innovative clean energy vehicles represent the future for Wisconsin neighborhoods, campuses and businesses. He also said spending transparency and accountability is important.
""People can go and see where every dollar of recovery act money is being spent and they can see that we are certainly emphasizing important priorities for Wisconsin.""
Five hundred vehicles in 119 communities and businesses throughout Wisconsin will be replaced or upgraded as part of the clean energy initiative. Doyle said the new vehicle purchases will save the state 1.6 million gallons of fuel each year and will help support the growth of local clean energy industries.
Doyle's announcement came on the heels of the stimulus-funded Cash for Clunkers program, which replaced 700,000 fuel-inefficient cars nationwide.
""We have worked very hard on a plan to advance clean energy in Wisconsin and it has a number of very important goals: to create new jobs, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels by diversifying our fuel supply, save money and clean our air and water,"" he said.
