Maine VW Settlement Funding Allocations

• VW Funding Allocation Matrix (Excel) (Updated May 2019)

Statewide Multimodal Priorities

• Selected Projects (Excel)
• 2019 Funding Request for State M

Maine Beneficiary Mitigation Plan

Under the lead of the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), collaborating with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Governor's Energy Office (GEO), a plan has been drafted that includes projected qualifying expenditures from the Trust. 

05/01/2019: Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Settlement Updates

• The Appendix D-2 (PDF) projects for Class 4-8 school buses were awarded on October 31, 2018.

October 25, 2016

On October 25, 2016 the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved the U.S. EPA and California first partial consent decree with Volkswagen and Audi to settle allegations of installing "defeat devices" on 2.0 liter diesel vehicles sold or leased in the U.S.

Volkswagen has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the federal Clean Air Act by installing “defeat devices” on 2.0 and 3.0 diesel vehicles. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) determined that the affected vehicles exceeded federal emission standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx), a pollutant that is known to harm public health and contribute to ozone or smog formation. Under two partial consent decrees issued by DOJ, states will receive settlement funds equivalent to the number of registered 2.0 and 3.0 diesel vehicles.

Reducing emissions through renewables

MaineDOT has identified and pursued a few ways to decrease emissions through the use of alternative fuels and through the generation of renewable energy. Electrification is not a one-size-fits-all solution and MaineDOT has recognized this and continues to evaluate other techniques for reducing the agency’s building, on-road, and fleet emissions.

Reducing emissions through investing in public, active, and shared transportation

Electrifying vehicles is the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector, however, improving public and active transportation is an important step in reducing emissions in Maine. Although MaineDOT can't ask drivers to use their vehicles less, the Department can provide drivers with the choice of alternative modes of transportation. There are a number of projects underway that have goals of increasing active and shared transportation within the State. 

Reducing emissions through electrification

The transportation sector accounts for 49% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels in Maine and is key to reducing overall state emissions.

MaineDOT has been an active member in the Maine Climate Council (MCC) and the State's Lead by Example efforts. The MCC released Maine Won't Wait, the State's four-year climate action plan in December 2020, with an updated version in December 2024.