Utah received approximately $35 million from the Volkswagen (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust due to VW’s Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead agency tasked with developing an Environmental Mitigation Plan (EMP) to fund eligible vehicle/equipment categories. This initiative aims to reduce excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from non-compliant VW, Audi, and Porsche vehicles. The primary focus is on government fleets, with specific funding details outlined below.
Entities: Government entities as defined in Utah Code § 63G-7-102(4) and federal government agencies.
Eligible Equipment (Application forms listed in next section)
- Vehicle or engine replacements of Class 4-8 local freight trucks, school buses, shuttle buses, and/or transit buses, engine model years 1992-2006*. VW funding is available for:
- Up to 50% of the cost for new diesel or alternative fueled vehicles or engines
- Up to 55% for new vehicles or engines certified to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Optional Low-NOx Standards
- Up to 65% for new all-electric replacement vehicles or engines
- Charging infrastructure may be included
*Note: Engine model years 1992-2006 vehicles/engines must be operable with a minimum of three years remaining in their useful life.
- Light-duty, electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), including Level 1, Level 2, and fast charging equipment. Funds may be used by government entities to purchase, install, and maintain eligible light-duty EVSE on government-owned property. VW funding is available for:
- Up to 100% of the cost to purchase, install, and maintain EVSEs available to the public at government-owned facilities
- Up to 60% of the cost to purchase, install, and maintain EVSEs available at a government workplace but not available to the general public