Lauren Lantry, 202-548-6599 or lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, North Carolina applied for funding to invest in clean transportation solutions from the Volkswagen dieselgate settlement funds. With North Carolina’s application, all 50 states plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico have applied for these funds one day ahead of the December 1 deadline.
In September 2015, Volkswagen admitted to installing software in certain diesel vehicles designed to bypass pollution control systems, resulting in dangerous emissions up to 40 times greater than allowed by law. In October of 2016, Volkswagen agreed to settle for its deceit by spending up to $14.7 billion to remediate the excess NOx emissions, which are a primary ingredient in smog. For states, $2.7 billion of this settlement money is going toward pollution reduction programs via the Environmental Mitigation Trust, meaning states can receive millions of dollars--some more than $100 million--toward clean transportation programs.
The Environmental Mitigation Trust funds provide states with the opportunity to decrease the impact that transportation has not only on smog levels but also on our climate. In total, the U.S. transportation sector—which includes cars, buses, trucks, planes, trains, ships, and freight—produces nearly thirty percent of all U.S. climate emissions, more than any other single sector. It is estimated that the worldwide impact of 11 million vehicles with installed cheat devices could be causing as much air pollution as 20 coal plants every year. The funding from this settlement can be used to help electrify the transportation sector in every U.S. state and eliminate one of our biggest sources of pollution in the country. The funding can be used to increase electric vehicle infrastructure through the building of charging stations and for states to invest in zero emission transit buses, school buses, and port vehicles. The Sierra Club is urging for the funding to be prioritized in communities most exposed to vehicle air pollution and used on clean, electric transportation options rather than on dirty compressed natural gas, diesel, or propane vehicles.
In response, Sierra Club’s Electric Vehicles Campaign Representative Mary Lunetta released the following statement:
"With all 50 states plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico having applied for funding, it’s clear Americans are tired of polluting cars and buses and are eager for 21st century clean transportation solutions. From electric school and transit buses to increased electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the money from this settlement will be used across the country to clean up our largest source of emissions and put clean transportation in the fast lane.”
"With all 50 states plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico having applied for funding, it’s clear Americans are tired of polluting cars and buses and are eager for 21st century clean transportation solutions. From electric school and transit buses to increased electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the money from this settlement will be used across the country to clean up our largest source of emissions and put clean transportation in the fast lane.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.