The TCEQ has published the final VW Beneficiary Mitigation Plan. The plan sets out the state’s strategy for distributing more than $209 million received in settlement of claims.
The plan identifies seven Priority Areas to receive the bulk of the funding. These Priority Areas are areas monitoring ozone concentrations near or above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Priority Area funding will be allocated as follows:
- 33 percent of the total funds are allocated to the Priority Areas based on the relative percentage of affected VW vehicles registered in those areas.
- 15 percent of the total funds are allocated equally among the state’s three ozone non-attainment areas.
- 33 percent of the total funds are allocated among the Priority Areas based on a strategic assessment of where the funding is more likely to make a difference in the near term in achieving or maintaining attainment with the federal standard for ozone.
In addition to Priority Area funding, the plan sets aside up to 15 percent of the total funds for the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles and fueling stations for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. TCEQ plans to use less than four percent of the funding to administer the program.
This plan was developed with the benefit of extensive public comment, including material changes in response to a draft plan, published in the summer. TCEQ anticipates that grant rounds will begin in early 2019.