July 17 – The steering committee for a 2017 lawsuit settlement by automaker Volkswagen recently awarded the Santa Fe Public Schools approximately $1.1 million in its third round of funding.

New Mexico was awarded $18 million in the settlement, which alleged the company had manufactured cars with faulty equipment that led to undetected nitrogen oxide pollution.

Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez said the funds the school district receives will be used to purchase electric-powered buses, which reduce exhaust pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs.

The funds, totaling $1,119,987, will replace one 2010 diesel school bus and two 2011 school buses with three 2023 electric models, the district said last week.

“SFPS will continue to explore alternative fuel options for transportation to reduce air pollution in our community and provide our students with healthier travel to and from school,” Chavez said in a press release.

In 2020, the district added a community-funded $341,700 electric school bus and six lower-emission propane buses to its bus fleet.

Approximately $7.3 million from the settlement was included in the third round of funding, according to the state Department of Environment.

Other recipients have not yet been announced, but other districts, including Gallup-McKinley County Schools and Albuquerque Public Schools, previously received funding for electric buses.