 Funding programs that address air quality, such as clean vehicle projects, are available from a number of federal, State, local, and non-profit entities. This site provides links to various current and recurring grant opportunities and incentives for clean technology and infrastructure.
Featured Funding Opportunities:
Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Equipment Grant Program
[Application Deadline Extended Through June 25, 2010]
[CLICK HERE]
to sign up and receive e-mail notices on current transportation and air quality funding opportunities. |
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is currently accepting applications for projects which reduce emissions from high-emitting, heavy-duty engines. Projects are selected on a modified first-come-first-served basis with proposals scored and selected in one-week intervals. Grant funding is available for projects in the following emphasis areas:
Clean Fleets North Texas: Recovery Act
[COMING SOON - Anticipated May 2010]
NCTCOG will hold a competitive Call for Projects to award $2.5 million to governmental entities for projects that increase the use of natural gas and electric technologies in fleet vehicles. Projects will be awarded in two emphasis areas: Electric Vehicles/Infrastructure and Natural Gas Vehicles/Infrastructure. Additional information will be posted as details are available, but details on each emphasis area are as follows:
- Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
- Includes All-Electric, Plug-In Hybrid, and Hybrid
- Includes Both Light-Duty and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
- Vehicle Purchases Funded at Up to 80% of Incremental Cost, Not to Exceed $4,000 for Light-Duty Vehicles and $8,000 for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
- Vehicle Conversions Funded at Up to 100% of Conversion Cost
- Expansion/Upgrade of Existing Alternative Fuel Infrastructure to Provide Recharging Capability Funded at Up to 80% of Incremental Cost
- Natural Gas Vehicles and Infrastructure
- Includes Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Includes Both Light-Duty and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
- Vehicle Purchases Funded at Up to 80% of Incremental Cost, Not to Exceed $4,000 for Light-Duty Vehicles and $8,000 for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
- Vehicle Conversions Funded at Up to 100% of Conversion Cost
- Expansion/Upgrade of Existing Alternative Fuel Infrastructure to Provide Natural Gas Refueling Capability Funded at Up to 80% of Incremental Cost
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Clean Vehicle and Infrastructure Funding
NCTCOG submitted applications on behalf of the North Central Texas region to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) for funds made available through the ARRA. Visit www.nctcog.org/recovery for information on additional Recovery Act funds.
Click on a heading below to expand the topic and view details on specific funding opportunities.
Currently Available Funding Options [Last Updated on March 12, 2010]
[NEW] Texas Clean School Bus Program
[First-Come, First-Served Until April 15, 2010]
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is now offering limited federal grant funding through ARRA. This grant program is designed to improve the health of school children and bus drivers by reducing emissions of diesel exhaust from school buses. The TCEQ provides grant money to purchase and install devices on school buses to reduce emissions. The grant is available to public school districts and charter schools in air quality nonattainment and near-nonattainment counties in Texas. All sizes of diesel-powered school buses are eligible. The bus must operate on a regular, daily route to and from a school and have at least five years of useful life remaining.
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[First-Come, First-Served Until June 25, 2010]
Please see description under "Featured Funding Opportunities" Above
- [NEW] Clean Fleets North Texas: Recovery Act
[Coming Soon; Anticipated May 2010]
Please see description under "Featured Funding Opportunities" Above
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Railroad Commission of Texas - Propane Rebates and Incentives
[First-Come-First-Served]
The Railroad Commission offers incentives to buyers of propane vehicles that meet or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission standards
and/or propane forklifts that meet or exceed EPA 2008 emission standard.
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Texas General Land Office (GLO)
[First-Come-First-Served]
The GLO has a Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Initiative Grant Program available for fleets in certain Texas counties to encourage the use of heavy-duty natural gas vehicles. Eligibility includes both public- and private-sector fleets, though public-sector partners will be given preference in selecting projects. The program is funded with a Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) grant through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
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AirCheck Texas Drive a Clean Machine Program
[Open]
This program is designed to help owners of high-emitting vehicles comply with vehicle emissions standards and contribute to improving regional air quality by offering financial incentives to remove these vehicles from the roadways. Residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth nonattainment counties may be eligible to receive vouchers for $3,000 toward the purchase of a newer qualifying car or truck and $3,500 toward a qualifying hybrid vehicle from participating auto dealers. Up to $600 for emissions repair assistance is available. Recipients must meet income requirements and vehicles must meet certain conditions.
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SmartWay Finance Center
[Open]
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership includes a new financing resource where buyers of clean trucks and other emissions and fuel saving technologies can submit one application and have multiple lenders compete for their business. The SmartWay program has consolidated interested private lenders into one network where they can view applications from buyers seeking cleaner and more fuel efficient vehicles and equipment. For more information on the EPA SmartWay Program, see www.epa.gov/smartway.
Local Funding Options
- North Texas Green and Go Clean Taxi Partnership
The North Texas Green and Go Green Taxi Partnership is a program of the Dallas Sustainable Skylines Iniative which is aimed at facilitating replacement of taxicabs with green vehicle options in the North Central Texas region by offsetting the incremental cost of green taxi purchases with financial and non-financial incentives.
- Diesel Idling Reduction Program
The Diesel Idling Reduction program is designed to reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines by awarded grant funding to provide for the purchase and installation of technological solutions to minimize heavy duty diesel engine idling. Eligible projects will include both on-vehicle idle reduction solutions, such as auxiliary power units, and on-site idle reduction strategies, such as site electrification.
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NCTCOG North Texas Clean School Bus Program
The North Texas Clean School Bus Program is aimed to help school bus owners and operators in the north central Texas region reduce emissions and improve air quality by providing funds to replace, repower, or retrofit school buses.
- NCTCOG North Texas Emissions Reduction Grant (NTERG)
NCTCOG has partnered with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to implement TERP funded projects through the North Texas Emission Reduction Grants Program. The program seeks to reduce emissions from heavy-duty engines in the region as well as educate public and private entities on available clean technologies and fuels.
- NCTCOG SmartWay
Transport Partnership
NCTCOG and the U.S. EPA are partnering in a demonstration project aimed at reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency.
State Funding Programs
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This program is designed to help vehicle owners comply with vehicle emissions standards. It targets the highest polluting light-duty vehicles by offering financial incentives to remove them from the roadways, and allows citizens to contribute to the regional air quality solution. Recipients must meet income requirements and vehicles must meet certain conditions.
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Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP)
A Supplemental Environmental Project is a means for directing fines, fees, and penalties for environmental violations toward environmentally beneficial uses. Through a SEP, a respondent in an enforcement matter can choose to invest penalty dollars in improving the environment, rather than paying into the Texas General Revenue Fund.
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Texas Environmental Research Consortium (TERC)
Several times each year TERC posts Requests for Grant Applications (RFGAs) for technologies related to reducing NOx from diesel engines. Approximately $9 million is awarded each year.
RFGAs are awarded at different times of the year and are typically written for specific technologies or diesel engine applications.
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Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP)
The TERP is administered by the TCEQ and includes a number of voluntary financial incentive programs, as well as other assistance programs, to help improve the air quality in Texas.
- Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants Program
The program provides grants to eligible projects in affected counties to offset the incremental cost associated with the activities to reduce emissions of NOx from high-emitting mobile diesel sources in nonattainment areas and other affected counties of the state.
- Rebate Grants Program
The Rebate Grants Program is a simplified application process under the Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants Program and is only available for diesel on-road and non-road replacement and repower projects.
- New Technology Research and Development Program
The New Technology Research and Development Program (NTRD) provides financial incentives to encourage and support research, development, and commercialization of technologies that reduce pollution in Texas through the issuance of state funded grants.
- Texas Clean School Bus Program
Health and Safety Code 390.002 requires the TCEQ to establish and administer a clean school bus program. Grants fund projects to help reduce the exposure of school children to diesel exhaust from school buses. Projects may include diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, and emissions-reducing add-on equipment.
- Small Business Program
The Small Business Grants Program helps small businesses and others participate in the TCEQ’s incentive program. The program is open to those who operate only a limited number of eligible vehicles and equipment.
- Heavy-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program
The Heavy-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program may reimburse a purchaser or lessee of a new on-road heavy-duty (over 10,000-lb.) vehicle for incremental costs of purchasing or leasing the vehicle in lieu of a higher-emitting diesel-powered vehicle.
- Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program
The Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive (LDPLI) Program is a statewide program to provide financial incentives (rebates) for the purchase or lease of an eligible new car and light truck, model year 2003 or newer. NOTE: This program has not yet been funded.
Regional / National Funding Programs
- Blue Skyways Collaborative
The Blue Skyways Collaborative was created to encourage voluntary air emissions reduction in North America’s heartland. Through partnership with non-profit and environmental groups, private industries and international, federal, state and local governments Blue Skyways strives to improve air quality.
- EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality
This page provides access to information about funding opportunities available from EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
- National Clean Diesel Campaign
Through the National Clean Diesel Campaign, EPA administers funding made available through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act for projects which reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Funding is provided through four individual programs: the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program, the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program, and the
State Clean Diesel Grant Program.
For More Federal Incentives, please visit the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center's State and Federal Incentives webpage.
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