1 Findings Statement. On January 4, 2016, the United States filed a complaint against Volkswagen and its related companies, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act with regard to certain diesel vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2015. The complaint alleged that the vehicles contained "defeat devices" in the form of computer software, designed to cheat on federal emissions tests, enabling the vehicles to emit levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) up to 40 times the federal emissions standard without detection. On June 28, 2016, a partial consent decree was approved by the court which requires Volkswagen to: (i) remove from commerce in the United States or perform an emissions modification on at least 85 percent of the affected vehicles covered by the decree; (ii) pay $2,700,000,000 into an environmental mitigation trust designed to fully mitigate the excess NOx emissions from the affected vehicles; and (iii) invest $2,000,000,000 over a period of up to 10 years on actions to promote the use of technology for zero emission vehicles and zero emission vehicle technology in the United States.

2 Governor's Office of Strategic Initiatives; Volkswagen Settlement; Zero Emission Vehicle Technology and Infrastructure Development. The governor's office of strategic initiatives is hereby authorized and directed to use the full 15 percent allowable under the terms of the agreement for the acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of new light duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment. In utilizing these funds, the highest priority shall be placed on the establishment of high speed charging corridors for zero emission vehicles along the New Hampshire portions of Interstate 93 and Interstate 89. The individual charging stations shall include no fewer than 2 high speed chargers. The chargers shall be placed in areas that are publicly available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year; they shall be readily accessible from the respective highway, preferably within a distance of no more than one mile; and they shall be spaced at regular intervals of no more than 30 miles distance.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Findings Statement. On January 4, 2016, the United States filed a complaint against Volkswagen and its related companies, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act with regard to certain diesel vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2015. The complaint alleged that the vehicles contained "defeat devices" in the form of computer software, designed to cheat on federal emissions tests, enabling the vehicles to emit levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) up to 40 times the federal emissions standard without detection. On June 28, 2016, a partial consent decree was approved by the court which requires Volkswagen to: (i) remove from commerce in the United States or perform an emissions modification on at least 85 percent of the affected vehicles covered by the decree; (ii) pay $2,700,000,000 into an environmental mitigation trust designed to fully mitigate the excess NOx emissions from the affected vehicles; and (iii) invest $2,000,000,000 over a period of up to 10 years on actions to promote the use of technology for zero emission vehicles and zero emission vehicle technology in the United States.

2 Governor's Office of Strategic Initiatives; Volkswagen Settlement; Zero Emission Vehicle Technology and Infrastructure Development. The governor's office of strategic initiatives is hereby authorized and directed to use the full 15 percent allowable under the terms of the agreement for the acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of new light duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment. In utilizing these funds, the highest priority shall be placed on the establishment of high speed charging corridors for zero emission vehicles along the New Hampshire portions of Interstate 93 and Interstate 89. The individual charging stations shall include no fewer than 2 high speed chargers. The chargers shall be placed in areas that are publicly available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year; they shall be readily accessible from the respective highway, preferably within a distance of no more than one mile; and they shall be spaced at regular intervals of no more than 30 miles distance.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.