PennFuture supports Gov. Tom Wolf’s creation of a new program that will provide funding for projects to advance cleaner air across the Commonwealth, using $118 million from a settlement reached with Volkswagen.
The settlement funds, paid by Volkswagen after the company cheated on its air emissions tests, may be used in various ways across the country to cut air pollution. Pennsylvania’s new program, Driving PA Forward, will be used to recommend and facilitate projects supported by the settlement.
The program will recommend grants and rebates with a goal of improving air quality by replacing older diesel engines with new technologies, and cut nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 27,700 tons.
“We applaud the Governor’s efforts to improve clean air and focus on cutting emissions from vehicles traveling in the most polluted areas of the state through the formation of this new program,” said PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo. “As funds are distributed for new state projects, PennFuture urges decision-makers to prioritize the expansion of electric vehicles and electric transportation infrastructure when choosing projects awarded money from this settlement.”
Volkswagen Group of America Inc. is settling based on complaints that the company sold 600,000 diesel-engine autos in the U.S. with computer software that allowed the company to cheat and achieve passing results of federal emissions tests, all while exceeding those standards and polluting the air.
For more information, visit www.pennfuture.org.