Hawai’i earns A+ for planned use of VW settlement
Posted on Jun 22, 2019 in Capitol Connection, Featured
Governor Ige announces a pilot program to select alternative energy buses for the new Conrac facility at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in 2021.
More electric vehicle charging stations and electric buses will be part of Hawai‘i’s future, thanks to $8.1 million in Volkswagen settlement funds to accelerate the Ige administration’s goals for more sustainable energy generation and use. Hawai‘i and Washington were the only two states to earn a perfect A+ score on their electric vehicle infrastructure and mass transit plans, according to the Volkswagen Settlement Scorecard.
“Electric vehicles are far less polluting than gas-powered cars, with half the carbon footprint, as well as fewer emissions of pollutants that contribute to poor air quality and respiratory diseases,” said the VW Settlement State Scorecard report. Hawai‘i was praised for its plan to take full advantage of the opportunity to invest in transportation electrification. Thirty-seven states received a “D” or “F.”
In 2016, Volkwagen admitted to installing illegal emissions control software on more than half a million vehicles in the U.S. and entered into a massive multibillion dollar settlement with federal authorities. The majority of the funds went to compensating owners of offending vehicles, but nearly $3 billion was allocated to provide each state with funds to promote electric vehicles.