Not yet sure what to do with your funds from the Volkswagen dieselgate settlement? The nonprofit Diesel Technology Forum has unveiled a new webpage and widget to help states determine the fastest, most cost-effective manner to gain cleaner air by using funds from the $2.9 billion Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust.
As explained by the forum, VW’s settlement provides funding for states to upgrade or repower older vehicles and equipment to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
“States have an extraordinary opportunity to make an immediate investment in clean air,” says Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the forum. “Technology that is available now, like clean diesel, offers a far greater impact for NOx reduction than other, more aspirational options. While the VW settlement provides flexibility for states to decide how to spend the dollars, some options will provide more clean air benefits for the dollar and provide those faster than other approaches.”
The forum’s new webpage provides a state-by-state breakdown of funding allocations, lead agencies and deadlines for comments. Interactive widgets and infographics also visualize the cost-effectiveness of investing in clean diesel solutions.
Users can select a state from the dropdown menu to see which options can most benefit that state. The page also depicts each state’s ability to streamline the number of projects; often, the emissions reductions gained by replacing just one of the oldest, largest engines is equivalent to converting hundreds of thousands of passenger vehicles to zero-emission options, according to the forum.
“To reduce 1 ton of NOx, which option would you choose: invest $176,000 in a new Class 8 clean diesel port truck, spend $214,000 for a compressed natural gas port truck, or hold $330,000 until the proper type of battery electric truck is developed?” says Schaeffer. “That’s the type of question our new resource helps states answer.”
The Diesel Technology Forum’s resource can be found here.
There is no such thing as clean diesel. Just like there is no such thing as clean coal.