VW to Pay Connecticut $14.8 Million to Settle Emissions Claims

Volkswagen is paying more than $157 million to 10 states to settle environmental lawsuits over the company's diesel emissions-cheating scandal and the state of Connecticut will receive more than $14.8 million. 

The company said the money will go to Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. 

All 10 states follow California's clean air standards. 

"Volkswagen lied to consumers and to regulators by stating that its vehicles were not only fuel efficient but also clean, when in reality they were neither," Attorney General George Jepsen said in a statement. "This settlement resolves claims that Volkswagen violated Connecticut's environmental protection laws that govern air pollution and conduct related to emission controls when it sold vehicles that it knew were equipped with devices designed to circumvent emission tests." 

The settlement, which Jepsen said needs court approval, covers three-liter six-cylinder diesel engines and is separate from a $603 million agreement reached last year with 44 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico that covered 2-liter engines. 

Volkswagen has admitted to programming its diesel engines to activate pollution controls during government treadmill tests and turning them off for roadway driving. 

VW has paid out more than $20 billion to buy back or repair cars and pay criminal and civil fines and legal settlements related to the scandal. 

Jepsen said Connecticut will receive $14,846,465 and nearly all of Connecticut's share of the settlement funds will go to the state's General Fund. A yet-to-be determined portion might be set aside for an environmentally beneficial purpose consistent with the settlement. 

You can see the settlement agreement here. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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