Fed Energy Funds Headed Our Way

Federal officials say Georgia will receive $32.9 million in federal funds to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state. The grant, announced Monday, is part of the nearly $82.5 million the department will award Georgia under the Federal-State Energy Program. Georgia's proposal for the money outlined plans for increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy says the state will receive more than $41 million in additional funding upon demonstrating successful implementation of that plan.

(Associated Press)

Perdue Clears Way for Road Projects

Gov. Sonny Perdue has cleared the way for 11 road projects funded by the federal stimulus package to move forward. The projects cost $51 million and span Georgia, from metro Atlanta to Washington County. They include a $14.4 million project to build auxiliary lanes along a busy Macon highway and $10.1 million to refurbish a stretch of Interstate 85 from Franklin to the South Carolina border. Another $9 million will be spent to replace and refurbish bridges in Coffee County, Colquitt County, DeKalb County and Douglas County. Some $7.6 million will improve a main road in DeKalb County. Perdue said the state is "using these federal dollars wisely to improve our transportation network and to put Georgians to work."

(Associated Press)

3-M In Fed Funds To Help Flood Areas

Georgia will get more than $3 million in federal money to help restore flood-prone areas. The funds will cover over 500 acres within the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. That program allows the government to acquire easements on land—either private or owned by state and local governments—that’s been damaged at least once within a year’s time, or twice in 10 years. Federal conservation officials will fund the work to restore land to its natural state.

Franklin pitches cities bailout plan

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin says a bailout plan for cities that she pitched -- along with mayors of Philadelphia and Phoenix -- was not just a plea for those cities.

Franklin says it's also a request for help for local governments across the country struggling in the strained economy.

Franklin, Philadelphia's Michael Nutter and Phil Gordon of Phoenix lobbied Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in a joint letter sent Friday. They asked for a share of the proposed $700 billion bailout.

In it, they made the case that dwindling revenues have led to layoffs and cuts in services, and dried-up sources of credit have made it hard for cities to get bonds for infrastructure projects that could provide jobs.

Franklin said in an interview this week at City Hall that lending to cities could help the country climb out of economic crisis -- or contribute to its continuing decline.

(AP)

Governor tours wildfire region

Governor Sonny Perdue on Tuesday took an aerial tour of wildfire-affected areas in southeast Georgia, and said he will seek more federal money to help pay for firefighting costs. He's not sure yet however, how much of the cost will go to state and local governments in those affected areas.

In two weeks time, the largest wildfire in Georgia history has blackened 87-thousand acres of forest and swampland, and has destroyed 22 homes. More than 800 firefighters from Georgia and neighboring states are still on the scene.

There are smaller fires burning in nearby Brantley and Atkinson counties.