Mass Emissions Cap and Trade Program
The MECT Program is a market-based cap-and-trade program that implements an annual nitrogen oxides emission cap for applicable facilities in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone nonattainment area.
Overview
Program participants are required to use allowances or discrete emission credits to cover NOx emissions on an annual basis. The allowances available for use each year are capped at a level necessary to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. Participation from affected facilities is mandatory.
- MECT Program rules:
30 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter H, Division 3 - Applicable NOx rules:
Chapter 117, Subchapter B, Division 3
Chapter 117, Subchapter C, Division 3
Chapter 117, Subchapter D, Division 1
Featured Items
- State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) - Submit MECT annual reports and trades online.
- Credit and Allowance Registry - Search for sites, companies, projects, portfolios, certificates, etc.
- Credit and Allowance Exchange - Current listing of requests to buy and sell credits and allowances.
Forms
Starting January 1, 2025 all EBT forms must be submitted through the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS).
MECT Tools
Annual Report Checklists
The following checklists were developed to help sites that are subject to the MECT Program to prepare and submit supporting documentation for Annual Compliance Reporting. The checklists are highly recommended to help ensure all supporting documentation is provided. Checklists may be submitted as an attachment to your Annual Report through STEERS.
- Annual Report Checklist for Major Source in PDF or Word
- Annual Report Checklist for Minor Source in PDF or Word
- Annual Report Checklist for EGU in PDF or Word
MECT Calculation Tool
The following Excel tool was developed to help calculate weighted average emission factors (EF) for facilities that have a new stack test and convert level of activity (LOA) into units of horsepower-hour (hp-hr) or million British thermal units (MMBtu). If this tool is used to determine inputs for your Annual Report, you must submit a copy of the worksheet(s) as an attachment to your Annual Report through STEERS.
Supplemental Documents
- Supporting Documentation for CEMS and PEMS -
PDF or
Word
This document must be submitted as supporting documentation for sites with units for which Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) or Predictive Emissions Monitoring Systems (PEMS) data is used to quantify annual emissions. Submit this form as an attachment to your Annual Report through STEERS.
Audits and Summary Reports
- Trade Report - List of approved allowance trades.
- Summary Reports - Annual summary of allowance allocations, emissions, compliance penalties, and transfers.