Merkley, Wyden: ODOT receives $31.9 million to slash pollution from construction projects
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced this week that the Oregon Department of Transportation is receiving $31.9 million to use cleaner construction materials on federally funded projects statewide.
The funding comes from the historic Inflation Reduction Act’s Low Carbon Transportation Materials Discretionary Grant Program, which supports continued growth in American manufacturing to boost the competitiveness of clean U.S. industries and the creation of good manufacturing jobs while reducing pollution from the production of concrete, steel, and other bedrock materials of our economy.
“Investing in clean construction projects in Oregon and across the United States is a win for our health, economy, and climate,” Merkley said. “This $31.9 million federal award to ODOT will create good-paying jobs across our state and support U.S. manufacturers that are cutting climate pollution. We must continue to invest in the infrastructure of the future that will simultaneously grow our economy while fighting climate chaos.”
“Fighting pollution and the climate crisis in Oregon demands an all-out attack, and this federal investment in cleaner construction options is a vital piece of that arsenal,” Wyden said. “I worked to pass the Inflation Reduction Act so fresh resources like this $31.9 million for our state are available to generate jobs that pay well, clean up the air that Oregonians breathe, and battle climate changes magnifying the destruction from wildfires and storms throughout the state.”
The federal funding to ODOT is part of a $1.2 billion award by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to 39 State Departments of Transportation. The investment also promotes the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which leverages the federal government’s buying power as the world’s largest purchaser to spur demand for clean production of construction materials used in federal buildings, highways, and infrastructure projects while supporting America’s workers, American manufacturing and tackling the climate crisis.
“We appreciate the support and direction Oregon’s federal delegation has given ODOT as we work to reduce carbon emissions from transportation,” said ODOT Director Kris Strickler. “Innovative programs like this are a central reason why Oregon is on track to reduce carbon emissions from transportation by 60 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.”
