Texas Fleet Purchaser/Manager
Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Grants
To encourage fleets to increase their use of heavy-duty NGVs, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has an NGV Initiative Grant Program available for public-sector partners in certain Texas counties. The program is funded with a Texas Emissions Reduction Plan grant through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. A variety of vehicles, including street sweepers, forklifts, buses, and garbage trucks, are eligible for grants to help cover the cost of replacing diesel vehicles with NGVs. For more information about the program and eligible counties, see the NGV Initiative Grant Program Web site.
Point of Contact
Soll Sussman
Alternative Fuels Program Coordinator
Texas General Land Office, Renewable Energy Division
Phone (512) 463-5039
Fax (512) 463-9211
soll.sussman@glo.state.tx.us
http://www.glo.state.tx.us/energy/altfuels/index.html
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Grants
The Adopt-A-School Bus Program, a cooperative partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, local elected officials, and corporate sponsors, was established as a nonprofit grant program to aid local school districts replacing their aging, diesel school bus fleets with new clean fuel buses. In an effort to ensure the longevity of the new buses, a portion of all grant money awarded is earmarked for fleet infrastructure and maintenance. For more information, please visit the Web sites for Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio/Alamo Area.
Clean Vehicle and Equipment Grants
The Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) provides grants for various types of clean air projects in 41 counties to improve air quality in the state's non-attainment areas. Grants are available for new, converted, or repowered on-road and off-road vehicles and equipment. For complete information on the types of projects and expenses that may be eligible for a grant, refer to TERP Guidelines for Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants. (Reference Texas Statutes, Health & Safety Code, Chapter 386)
Point of Contact
Steve Dayton
Team Leader of Grant Contract Development Team
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Phone (512) 239-6824
Fax (512) 239-0077
sdayton@tceq.state.tx.us
http://www.terpgrants.org
Natural Gas Fuel Rates and Alternative Fuel Promotion
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) makes competitively-priced natural gas available to school districts (and other state and local public entities) for use in natural gas vehicles. The GLO has also established an alternative fuels program to aggressively promote the use of alternative energy sources, especially for those fuels abundant in Texas. The GLO alternative fuels program serves as a liaison between government and industry.
Point of Contact
Soll Sussman
Alternative Fuels Program Coordinator
Texas General Land Office, Renewable Energy Division
Phone (512) 463-5039
Fax (512) 463-9211
soll.sussman@glo.state.tx.us
http://www.glo.state.tx.us/energy/altfuels/index.html
Alternative Fuel Grant Assistance
The Texas State Energy Conservation Office researches and assists public and private entities in securing grants to encourage the use of alternative fuels, including conversion of state and local government fleets to operate on compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, biodiesel, and ethanol, and the use of hybrid electric vehicles.
Point of Contact
Mary-Jo Rowan
Program Manager
Texas State Energy Conservation Office, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Phone (512) 463-2637
Fax (512) 475-2569
mary-jo.rowan@cpa.state.tx.us
http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Bus and Forklift Rebate
The Railroad Commission of Texas Alternative Fuels Research & Education Division (AFRED) School Bus Rebate Program applies to school buses (Model Year 2007 or newer) that incorporate an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) low emission vehicle (LEV) certified LPG system. The rebate is worth 80% of the incremental cost of the LPG system, less any other grant funds used to pay for the incremental cost of the LPG system. Used OEM vehicles and LPG fuel system components are not eligible. AFRED also offers incentives to buyers of propane forklifts that meet 2004 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emission standards. Rebate funding is limited.
Point of Contact
Heather Ball
AFRED Marketing and Public Education Director
Railroad Commission of Texas
Phone (512) 463-7359 or (800) 64-CLEAR
Fax (512) 463-7292
heather.ball@rrc.state.tx.us
http://www.propane.tx.gov/rebate_program
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Vehicle Training
The Railroad Commission of Texas offers free safety and maintenance training on LPG vehicles, buses, and forklifts.
Point of Contact
Franz Hofmann
AFRED Lead Automotive Instructor
Railroad Commission of Texas
Phone (512) 463-8501
Fax (512) 475-2532
franz.hofmann@rrc.state.tx.us
Provision for Establishment of Hydrogen Program
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is authorized to seek funding to acquire and operate hydrogen vehicles and establish and operate publicly-accessible hydrogen refueling stations. TxDOT is required to ensure that data on emissions from the vehicles, refueling stations, and related hydrogen production are monitored compared with data on emissions from control vehicles with internal combustion engines that operate on fuels other than hydrogen. TxDOT must report the results of this monitoring, analysis and comparison to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (Reference Texas Statutes, Transportation Code, Section 201.618)
Idle Reduction Requirement
No driver using a vehicle's sleeper berth may idle the vehicle in a school zone or within 1,000 feet of a public school during its hours of operation. A penalty of up to a $500 fine applies. This restriction expires September 1, 2009. (Reference Senate Bill 12, 2007, and Texas Statutes Health & Safety Code, Section 382.0191)
Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) Access to Roadways
NEVs may only be used on roads that have a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. NEVs must comply with the safety standards in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 571.500. (Reference Texas Statutes, Transportation Code, Sections 551.301 to 551.303)
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Tax
Motor fuel taxes for LPG vehicles are collected through annual sticker permit fees based on the registered gross vehicle weight rating and mileage driven the previous year. (Reference Texas Statutes, Tax Code, Section 162.305)
Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) and Forklift Rebate
The Texas Gas Service Conservation Program offers a $2,000 rebate for the purchase of a natural gas vehicle or conversion of a gasoline powered vehicle to operate on natural gas (maximum of five vehicles per customer), and a $1,000 rebate for the purchase of a natural gas forklift. This incentive is for commercial and residential customers in the city of Austin with specific gas rate codes. Conversions must be done by a center that is certified by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Point of Contact
Teri Green
Conservation Program Manager
Texas Gas Service
Phone (512) 465-1109
Fax (512) 465-1133
tgreen@txgas.com
http://www.txgas.com
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Grants
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program Grants are available through the Houston-Galveston Area Council, via the Greater Houston Regional Clean Cities Coalition, for up to 75% of the incremental cost for new original equipment manufacturer clean fuel vehicle purchases, and clean fuel vehicle conversions/repowers. This grant is for government and private entities in the eight-county Houston-Galveston non-attainment area.
Point of Contact
Christine Smith
Clean Cities Coordinator
Greater Houston Regional Clean Cities Coalition
Phone (832) 681-2556
christine.smith@h-gac.com
http://www.houston-cleancities.org
