TCEQ announces grants for natural gas vehicles

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today that $18 million in grants are available to eligible businesses, governmental entities, school districts, and individuals to replace older medium-duty or heavy-duty gasoline or diesel vehicles with natural gas vehicles or repower the vehicles with natural gas engines.

Applicants must apply for Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program grants through a participating dealer.  A list of participating dealers is available on the Texas Emission Reductions Plan (TERP) website (see below).

The predetermined grant amounts are to reimburse between 60 percent to 90 percent of the incremental cost of the natural gas vehicles and engines and are based on the fuel capacity, usage, and weight class of the grant-funded vehicles.  Grants are awarded first come, first served.

Projects must result in at least a 25 percent reduction of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX), and grant recipients must commit to operate the grant-funded vehicles in the eligible Texas counties for at least 75 percent of the annual mileage for four years or 400,000 miles, whichever occurs earlier.

Applications will be accepted up to May 31, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. or until all funding is awarded, whichever occurs earlier.

For up-to-date program information and eligibility requirements, please contact a participating dealer. You may also visit the TERP website , or call 800-919-TERP (8377).