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SALT LAKE CITY — Volkswagen reached a $15.7 billion legal settlement during the largest auto scandal in U.S. history after the German automaker admitted its vehicles were designed to fool emissions tests.
Utah will receive approximately $35 million from the settlement and Utahns can help decide how to use the money, according to Donna Kemp Spangler, communications director at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
“While we continue to make progress at reducing emissions, we still have work to do to ensure we all breathe healthy air,” said DEQ executive director Alan Matheson in a news release. “We will direct funds from the VW settlement toward eligible strategies that give us the most air-quality benefit per dollar spent.”
Utah’s portion of the settlement will be used to offset nitrogen oxide emissions from about 7,000 Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles in the state affected by Volkswagen’s violations.
The agency has also hinted in the past that the money may be used to equip FrontRunner locomotives with the latest technology to reduce emissions.
The Volkswagen settlement identified certain categories of vehicles and equipment that can receive funding under the agreement. The DEQ has developed an Environmental Mitigation Plan, which will eventually determine which categories the state will target, according to Spangler.
Engines eligible for funding include large and medium freight trucks, school buses, shuttle buses, transit buses, freight switchers, forklifts and airport ground-support equipment. Fifteen percent of the funds may also be allocated to build electric vehicle infrastructure, like charging stations.
The funds must be used in 10 years and only 30 percent of the funds can be used in any given year.
An advisory committee appointed by the DEQ has recommended that a total of 77 percent of the funding go towards large and medium local freight trucks, 7 percent towards school, shuttle or transit buses, 11 percent toward light-duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment and 5 percent to administrative costs.
“The advisory committee was charged with figuring out a way to mitigate the 230.1 tons-per-year of nitrogen oxides produced by the VW cheat device. The (large and medium freight trucks) were identified as the area that could produce that level of reduction given the allocated funds,” the DEQ said.
Utahns with suggestions for the money's use can find more information here. The DEQ encourages those voicing ideas to read up on the issues and use the tools provided on the website.
“We actively seek feedback from the public about how we should invest these funds so we can take full advantage of this unique opportunity,” Matheson said in a news release.
The department hosted a Facebook Live event at 11 a.m. Tuesday on its Facebook page with more information for those wishing to voice their opinions.
