Lafayette to Use Federal Grant For Wind Turbine Project

Press Release

September 21, 2009

The Obama Administration today announced that the Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation (GLPTC) was among the transit agencies awarded a share of $100 million in Economic Recovery Act funds for pursuing cutting-edge environmental technologies to help reduce global warming, lessen America’s dependence on oil and create green jobs.

“The Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation is showing how investing in green transportation not only helps the planet and strengthens our economy, but also creates jobs in Indiana,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

GLPTC will use the $2.2 million grant to reduce its electrical energy usage by investing in a renewable source of energy to be generated by wind using equipment on site. The primary use of electrical energy by GLPTC is by its garage and maintenance facilities. The installation of wind turbine units on GLPTC premises is projected to provide a significant amount of the total amount of electrical energy used by CityBus.

“These grants will put Americans to work now while improving our environment in the future,” said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. “The transit industry continues to be at the forefront of reducing pollution and creating a cleaner, safer environment for the nation.”

The transit agency’s proposal was among 43 winning projects selected in nationwide competition for $100 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. In addition to being evaluated on their anticipated reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, proposals were also rated on their return on investment, readiness to implement, the capacity of the applicant, the degree of innovation, and their national applicability.

Transit agencies began submitting their proposals after the FTA announced rules for the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) grant program as part of the Recovery Act last March.

Since President Obama signed ARRA into law on Feb. 17, 2009, grants totaling more than $7.2 billion have been made available for transit improvements throughout the nation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is making $48.1 billion available for highway, transit, bridge, rail, shipyard and airport construction and repairs nationwide. Of that, $26.5 billion already has been obligated to fund more than 8,500 approved projects in 55 U.S. States and Territories.

Source: The White House