Michigan’s first priority in distributing settlement funds from the 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal is to replace aging, polluting diesel school buses.
State officials released the “Volkswagen Settlement Beneficiary Mitigation Plan” this week, which will distribute $64.8 million over the next nine years to reduce air pollution from the transportation sector.
The spending plan, which takes place in four phases, targets the replacement of diesel vehicles across a variety of sectors, including local freight vehicles, Great Lakes ferries and airport ground support equipment. The plan also distributes $9.7 million electric vehicle charging stations.
Charles Griffith, director of the Ecology Center’s climate and energy program, said he is supportive of Michigan’s plan. The plan “at least acknowledges the fact that these technologies cost a little more upfront but provide fuel savings over the life of the vehicles,” he said.
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