HARTFORD, CT (WFSB – DEEP announced Wednesday afternoon that Connecticut will use $12.7million from a legal settlement with Volkswagen Corporation to fund five environmental justice programs in the state.
The money will be used to replace 43 diesel school buses and will allow for new electric buses to run in Middletown.
The funds will also be used to replace a 50-year old diesel-powered crane at the Port of New Haven with an electrified crane.
Governor Ned Lamont said that the innovative projects he announced today are a significant investment in ensuring a healthier environment for our children. Ned Lamont. Every day, thousands of children ride school busses in Connecticut. Diesel-powered school buses can be a source for fine particulate matter as well as other harmful emissions that can affect developing lungs. These awards will go far in helping to improve air quality, and protect public health, for communities that have been negatively affected by air pollution for too many years.
The buses are Connecticut’s investment in electric vehicles at a time when Connecticut must make strides to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Katie Dykes, DEEP Commissioner said that the selected projects will bring direct benefits to residents of environmental justice communities, where levels of fine particulate material can be up 20% higher than in other parts of the state. The selected projects will reduce harmful greenhouse gases emissions while providing direct benefits for residents in environmental justice areas that have suffered the most from air pollution from vehicle traffic.
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