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Remaining Volkswagen settlement funding to go toward Illinois electric transportation


SPRINGFIELD — The State of Illinois has announced their plan to use the remaining Volkswagen settlement of $84.4 million on electric transportation and infrastructure. The revised plan will replace old diesel engines with all-electric school buses, public transit, freight trucks, and light-duty charging infrastructure to reduce emissions in areas of Illinois that are impacted by the effects air pollution. LaSalle County will be one of the areas in the state noted as a Priority Area by the Volkswagen Beneficiary Mitigation Plan.
“Paired with our nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and electric vehicle and charging incentives, our Volkswagen settlement funds will further hasten Illinois’ transition to clean energy with a focus on accessible electric transit options,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
The Volkswagen Settlement is the resolution of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that found that Volkswagen violated the federal Clean Air Act by installing “defeat devices” in certain diesel vehicles to circumvent federal vehicle emissions standards.
Of the State’s remaining $84.4 million in VW funds, Illinois expects to allocate:
• Up to 32%, or approximately $27 million for all-electric public transit buses and public passenger/commuter locomotives;
• Up to 32%, or approximately $27 million for all-electric school buses;
• Up to 19%, or approximately $16 million for all-electric Class 4-8 local freight trucks (including municipal trucks, refuse trucks, dump trucks, concrete mixer trucks, delivery vehicles, and Class 8 port drayage trucks;
• Up to 15%, or approximately $12.7 million for light-duty electric charging infrastructure; and
• Up to 2%, or approximately $1.7 million for Illinois IEPA administrative costs.
Illinois EPA has previously awarded over $24.3 million in Volkswagen Settlement funds for public transit projects in the Chicagoland area, and electric school bus projects in the Chicagoland and Metro East areas.
Illinois EPA’s Volkswagen Settlement webpage contains additional information on the VW Settlement and the Driving a Cleaner Illinois Program: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/air-quality/driving-a-cleaner-illinois/Pages/default.aspx

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