© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fuel Sector Wants to Divvy Up the Volkswagon Settlement in Ohio

Photo of an electric car.
Shuttershock

A sector of the advanced energy industry is calling on lawmakers to change a provision in the budget that would automatically throw $30 million into public transit projects.

The alternative fuels industry includes a broad spectrum of sources from natural gas to biofuels.

Sam Spofforth with Clean Fuels Ohio is urging lawmakers to consider every type of alternative transportation fuel when it decides how to dole out $30 million in settlement funds.

He says a budget proposal that earmarks it specifically for transit that reduces the most amount of emissions unfairly picks a winner.

“We think that school districts, local governments, transit agencies and even private fleets should be able to compete equally,” Spoforth says.

The money comes from a national settlement with Volkswagen which was caught cheating on federal emissions test.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.