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President Obama announces $2.4 billion grant for electric programs

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Khatir Soltani
President Obama has been a busy man. After appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno earlier this week, he's recently visited an electric-vehicle testing facility in southern California to re-highlight his environmental jobs initiative- part of which included a $2.4 billion grant program to make electric transportation more widely available.

The celebrated leader hopes to double the amount of renewable energy flowing through American power lines in the next few years, and plans to spend $11 billion in upgrading the power grid to ensure easy delivery of the energy. Another $15 million will go towards green technologies like wind and solar power.

According to Obama, it's all part of leading the way in terms of clean energy, and keeping related jobs on American soil rather than overseas. He noted that the US falls behind other countries in wind and solar power, and that Japan makes the batteries currently used in American hybrid cars.

His plan would call upon manufacturers to compete for government money that would help fund the manufacturing of efficient batteries and other parts used in electric cars. Tens of thousands of jobs could be created, and a million 'environmentally-friendly' vehicles are hoped to be on American roads by 2015.

Obama's plan would also give hybrid buyers a tax credit of some $7,500.
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada