As a result of the partial settlements with Volkswagen automakers, the state of Iowa anticipates receiving approximately $21 million from an environmental mitigation trust. These funds can be spent on defined eligible nitrogen oxides reduction projects.
In the spring of 2017, an input-gathering survey was available for the public to submit ideas on how Iowa could best use its environmental mitigation trust funds. Participation was invaluable to the process. The state agency working group used the information from the survey to prepare a draft plan for review by the Governor and the public.
Our draft Beneficiary Mitigation Plan was available for public comment through May 25, 2018. Over 120 comments were received during the formal comment period. A summary of the comments is shown below.
The Beneficiary Mitigation Plan was submitted to the VW Settlement trustee on August 8, 2018. We anticipate a request for applications later in the fall.
A survey was placed on the website from February to April 2017 to seek input on how the VW Settlement Trust funds should be spent. Approximately 500 survey responses were received, with the most popular supporting the use of funds for school bus replacements, specifically for buses utilizing alternative fuel sources such as propane. The public was also overwhelmingly in favor of funding zero-emission vehicle infrastructure for light-duty electric vehicles and supplementing the Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant program.
Approximately 120 formal responses were received on the draft plan and were generally positive. A majority of the comments were in support of using funds to replace school buses, specifically focused on propane or electric buses.
A state agency working group, coordinated by the Iowa Department of Transportation, has been tasked with reviewing the Volkswagen settlement requirements and evaluating potential uses of these dollars.
Copyright 2017/2018 - Volkswagen Clean Air Act Partial Settlements | Terms of use