Dec 20, 2020 —
In October, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, which governs the U.S. side of the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation, received a second payment from Volkswagen to reduce air pollutant emissions. The money is part of a settlement agreement from 2016, when the company was sued for violating the Clean Air Act by selling non-compliant vehicles.
Over 50 Native tribes and nations across the country are involved in the settlement, which was created to help combat the effects of air pollution.
'Green' vehicles for Native communities hit hard by decades of pollution
The Akwesasne community has had a history of environmental issues, including the pollution of the St. Lawrence and Grasse Rivers from the former Reynolds Metals and GM plants.
Indigenous communities across the country have dealt with similar instances of pollution, which affects their resources and their health. But the federal government has been slow to help Native tribes deal with the pollution.
In 2016, Volkswagen was involved in a lawsuit that required them to pay states and tribal nations for air quality damages caused by diesel vehicles that violated the Clean Air Act. According to the EPA, 590,000 vehicles were sold from 2009 to 2016.
Electric vehicles and charging stations
Angela Benedict, the Air Quality Program Manager for the tribe’s Environmental Division, is responsible for enrolling the tribe in the settlement and receiving the funds for the community.
The payment of almost $250,000 will allow them to replace old diesel vehicles with electric ones.
“Getting these replaced is awesome," Benedict said. "We were allocated this money, we could go out, we could buy brand new 2020, 2021 vehicles with it. And that helps out not only the programs because they don’t have to spend the money to keep putting into the engines or fixing and adding more things or getting a new vehicle. They don’t have to do that. So, it’s actually increased their productivity and allowing funds to go other places.,” Benedict said.
The Environmental Division has already replaced two trucks.
They’ve also installed several charging stations for electric cars, which Benedict says are the some of the only ones around Akwesasne.
The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe will be able to submit a proposal for one more year, culminating a three-payment period.
New York State announced earlier last month they were also receiving funds from the settlement. The money will be used to install electric car charging stations in communities that don’t have them.
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St. Regis Mohawk Tribe gets money for electric vehicles, thanks to Volkswagen - North Country Public Radio
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