The Utah Department of Environmental Quality selected 18 government entities to receive funding for electric vehicle charging projects from the state’s $35 million share of the Volkswagen Clean Diesel settlement, according to an April 1 press release.

• Governor Gary Herbert, a Republican, designated the department to oversee the allocation of settlement funds. The DEQ decided to put 11 percent, or about $3.8 million of the settlement funds, towards EV charging equipment projects, following a public consultation process that strong public support for the mitigation measure.
• The projects were selected based on the potential for nitrogen oxide emission reductions at the lowest possible cost, assisting the state in reaching its goals under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
• Remaining funds, totalling about $25.5 million, will be allocated in coming months to government-owned vehicle and engine replacement projects. The department plans to issue all the settlement funds by the end of the year, way ahead of the 2027 deadline.
• In 2017, Volkswagen agreed to criminal penalty and pleaded guilty for selling vehicles that turned on full emissions controls during testing, but lowered them during normal driving.