Community Corner
How The VW Diesel Scandal May Benefit Washington Commuters
Washington got $112.7 million in connection to the VW diesel car scandal. That money will make its way onto local streets.
SEATTLE, WA — Appropriately, the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal will likely result in fewer diesel vehicles on streets around Washington.
This week, the state Department of Ecology said it will use $13.3 million out of Washington's $112.7 million piece of the federal settlement with Volkswagen to buy new battery-powered buses for local transit agencies. That might mean fewer diesel-powered buses on local streets.
The department will give $300,000 per-bus to transit agencies in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Clark, Benton, and Spokane counties for the all-electric buses.
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On the other hand, all-electric buses are an emerging technology, and none are operating on major routes in the state. Part of that is the battery technology, but also that transit agencies have to build lots of new infrastructure to support battery charging.
READ: King County Metro Zero Emission Fleet 20 Years Away — Here's Why
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In 2015, it was revealed that Volkswagen installed illegal software on diesel TDI cars to cheat emissions tests. In reality, the cars marketed as "clean diesel" were emitting 40 times the limit of harmful compounds allowed under the federal Clean Air Act. Volkswagen ended up paying close to $5 billion in the U.S. over environmental damage.
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