WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Energy Department says it’s making $240 million available for research into more fuel-efficient large trucks and passengers vehicles. It also is providing about $11 million for nine projects looking into capturing carbon dioxide from coal plants and $49 million for two dozen solar technology projects.
The awards announced Thursday come four days after President Barack Obama called for ramping up spending under his economic recovery plan. Nearly half of the spending is from the stimulus package. The rest is from normal department funds.
The $240 million is for research aimed at improving the fuel efficiency of large trucks by 50 percent and passengers cars by 25 to 40 percent, depending on the type of fuel they use.