Washington state plans to use its $112.7 million share of a settlement in the Volkswagen emissions scandal to add electric vehicle charging stations and replace diesel engines in public vehicles.
The EPA and California negotiated a $14.7 billion nationwide settlement with Volkswagen for violating the federal Clean Air Act. The carmaker was found guilty of installing illegal software on its diesel cars that allowed them to cheat emissions tests.
Roughly 24,000 vehicles that contained the software were registered in Washington. This has made Washington eligible for $112.7 million from the settlement.
Governor Jay Inslee hopes to use the funds for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and replacing diesel engines in buses and other public vehicles. The funds will also be earmarked for providing public vehicles and vessels with electric engines and cleaner diesel engines.
"This settlement represents an opportunity to begin building a transportation system for the next 100 years in our state," said Inslee. "By investing in zero emission or near-zero emission vehicles, vessels, and infrastructure, we can dramatically reduce pollution, better protect the public, and slash carbon emissions in Washington."
