DEP Holds Public Hearing on VW Fund Beneficiary Mitigation Plan

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is holding their first public comment hearing on their draft Beneficiary Mitigation Plan for the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust. New Jersey was allocated $141 million from the Volkswagen settlement however the Murphy Administration took $69 million from that fund to go into the state budget. DEP’s draft mitigation plan intends to spend its Trust allocation in three, $24.1 million phases primarily funding replacing heavy duty vehicles/engines such as buses, trucks, and non-road equipment in urban areas disproportionately impacted by diesel emissions. DEP have opened a comment period since early November of 2017. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement.

“The VW Settlement Fund is supposed to jump start electric vehicles in New Jersey and we cannot afford any more delay. We need to get this plan done quickly so we can get the settlement money out the door. The DEP must focus on funding electric vehicles, not just replace them with cleaner fossil fuel vehicles. Settlement money should also to target charging station is underserved areas, electrify our ports and buses, and encourage EV’s that everyone can afford. We need to take advantage of the full $72 million to create more in-state jobs, better vehicles, less carbon pollution, and cleaner, healthier air.

“Given the limited amount of money, the DEP should only pick a few projects. If we fund too many projects, we dilute the project and limit on getting things done. DEP needs to make real choices and be specific on which programs are going to get funded in their Draft Beneficiary Plan. We need to be funding projects that are 100% electric only. We cannot spend money on fossil fuels and alternative too. If we spread the money around, we are not getting anything done. With only $72 million we need to focus on where that money goes so we can get the most band for our buck is not a lot of money does not go far enough to make improvements for each category of the draft mitigation plan. If the Murphy Administration did not divert $69 million out of the VW Fund to the general budget, then New Jersey could do a lot more to electrify our state.

“In Category 9, Light Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Supply Equipment, DEP must target areas for charging stations that the market won’t reach. Certain communities have been affected by pollution more than other areas. If DEP allocates money to private charging companies, then that money should also be targeted to those areas. New Jersey doesn’t need charging station in the Short Hills Mall, we need to focus on targeting areas such as Bellville and Perth Amboy. DEP cannot replace our vehicles with diesel if they plan to reduce NOx pollution in these communities. We should also provide incentives for EV’s, especially towards those with lower and modest-income families who would have more trouble affording an EV. We can look at rebates, tax breaks, grants, and more.

“In Category 2, regarding transit buses, the most important areas to fund is buying buses for NJ Transit. NJ Transit is in the middle of buying fossil fuel buses, they must cancel those contracts and replace them with electric ones. They must start now so that they can transition to 100% electric buses by 2025. These areas have some of the worst pollution and with electric buses, we can reduce air pollution in areas already highly affected. There is federal money involved in NJ Transit so if DEP uses funding along with the federal money, we can move quicker in making improvements to our transit system.

“In Category 2, regarding school buses, the DEP must fund and implement a pilot on electric school buses. This is especially important for children who live in urban areas already overburdened by air pollution. In a lot of urban areas, school buses are also not provided. School buses are particularly bad as children are especially susceptible to diesel tailpipe emissions, and buses in poorer areas tend to be older and more polluting. With electric busses, our school children can ride in cleaner, quieter, and healthier vehicles powered by electricity.

“In Category 8, regarding ports, we can electrify our ports and mirror California’s efforts is making their port energy efficient. We can use electric vehicles for commuter and school transportation in and around the ports including moving goods and containers. New Jersey can start using electric garbage trucks too.

“In Category 9a, regarding light duty electric vehicle charging stations, New Jersey must move forward with EV’s. Our state fleet should be modernized with EV’s and charging stations. The state can buy all new electric vehicles and charging stations for governmental and non-governmental properties.  There are currently more than 20 fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles available at US dealerships however New Jersey only has 14,000 EVs on the road. The lack of a robust charging infrastructure on highways contributes to range anxiety and results in lower public awareness of electric vehicles. Using funds to build out charging infrastructure in appropriate locations can overcome these hurdles.

“Electric vehicles will help grow our economy as well as protect our environment. EVs are more than five times more efficient than standard vehicles; the average gas automobile is 15% efficient while EVs are 80%. EVs use electricity to power a battery, the technology of which continues to get cheaper and better. By increasing electric vehicle sales, it will help car dealers in selling more fuel-efficient cars, help New Jersey companies who are part suppliers for these car parts, and even bring in new companies since we may be the first state on the east coast to implement these practices.

“The DEP needs to maximize the amount of VW settlement funds dedicated to building our EV infrastructure so that New Jersey can create a network of charging stations for everyone to afford. We do not need any more webinars or meetings. DEP must to come up with a final plan and get the money moving forward for our economy and our environment. We can see the benefits of clean air and clean jobs if we put this money to good use,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.