Grant Funding Available: Clean School Bus Program

Greetings Valued Educators,

The Houston-Galveston Area Council ‘s Clean School Bus Program is currently accepting applications to replace older buses with new, cleaner buses. There is no deadline; however, funding is very limited. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible. A maximum 10 buses will be replaced per application. School districts that have never applied for funding from H-GAC will be preferred in the application review process.

The goal of the Clean School Bus Program region is to reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust and reduce the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses. Clean School Bus Program aims to reduce pollution from buses through partners from business, education, transportation, and public health organizations. Our program noticed that many of our local school districts applied for grant funding through the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality’s Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program. Based on the limited funding ($10.5M allocated to Houston vs $21.5M requested), there will be many projects that will not be funded. We hope to provide those school districts that do not get Volkswagen funds, a chance to replace their buses. It is vital that our students, educators, and all those in between are able to breathe clean air.

Clean School Bus Program is serving the following counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller. These counties are currently in non-attainment for air quality for the air pollutant ozone.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Own vehicle(s) currently operating 75% of mileage in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) ozone nonattainment area (Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties)

• Agree to destroy old chassis and engine with an H-GAC-approved salvage vendor

• Purchase brand new vehicle(s) similar in size and weight to the vehicle being destroyed

• Commit to continuing operating the new vehicle(s) at the same mileage as the old vehicle(s)

• Have site visits to view any and all vehicles under for consideration in the program

• NOT perform grant work (purchase, or destroy vehicles) without a contract with H-GAC

• Commit to reporting quarterly on mileage, fuel use, and maintenance information for 5 years after reimbursement

To apply, please visit our website. You can submit all questions and applications to CleanVehicles@h-gac.com. You can also give us a call at 713-993-2488.

Replace or repower your drayage truck or cargo handling equipment with a TERP Grant

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is preparing to open the Seaport and Rail Yard Areas Emissions Reduction Program, a grant program under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Program. TCEQ will be has posted a workshop presentation for review.

The purpose of the SPRY program is to encourage individuals and entities operating at designated seaports and Class I rail yards in Texas’ nonattainment areas to replace or repower their older on-road vehicles, non-road yard trucks, or other cargo handling equipment with new models.

Applicants may be eligible for funding up to 80% of the cost to replace or repower eligible vehicles and equipment if, for at least two years preceding the submission date of the application, the applicant has:

Owned or leased the on-road vehicle, non-road yard truck, or other cargo handling equipment eligible to be replaced under the program; and
Operated the vehicle or equipment at one or more of the designated seaports or rail yards for a minimum of 200 days of operation per year for the preceding two years.

Designated seaports include terminals and facilities located in the Port of Houston (including the participating facilities of the Houston Ship Channel Security District), Port of Galveston, and Port Freeport.

Designated Class I rail yards include terminals and facilities located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Bexar County, Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area, and El Paso area.

Please share with anyone who might be interested.

For program opening information, sign up for email updates at www.terpgrants.org.

Have questions? Contact TCEQ toll-free at 800-919-TERP (8377) or by email at terp@tceq.state.tx.us.

EV Resources From EPA

In December 2019, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners released an issue brief titled Electric Vehicles: Key Trends, Issues, and Considerations for State Regulators. The brief profiles examples of regulatory approaches and decisions that states and commissions have taken.

Watch this EPA video to learn how electric vehicles and different types of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles work. And visit our Beyond the Tailpipe Emissions Calculator to estimate the total GHG emissions associated with driving an EV or PHEV in your area, as compared to a gasoline vehicle.

EPA Webinar Materials Available – Electric Vehicles: The Utility Connection

Materials from our December 2019 webinar Electric Vehicles: The Utility Connection are now available online. We appreciate your interest and hope you find the materials valuable. View the webinar recording, slides, and transcript.

This webinar, organized by EPA’s State and Local Energy and Environment Program and Office of Transportation and Air Quality, highlighted the ways utilities and governments can work together to make electric vehicles and charging more reliable, accessible, affordable, and environmentally beneficial. The webinar featured speakers from the Smart Electric Power Alliance, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, and Seattle City Light.

Past recordings, presentation files, and information on future webinars are available on the State, Local, and Tribal Webinar Series page.

Updated Nozzle Guidelines for 2020 Propane Autogas Vehicles

Big changes are coming for autogas refueling in 2020. For decades there have been a variety of valves available, such as the ACME, which have been used for fueling propane vehicles. However, new NFPA 58 guidelines for next year specify that the propane industry will adopt the K15 connection for all future autogas vehicles reinstated into service, purchased, or converted after Jan. 1, 2020.

Unlike the ACME valve, which requires a threaded connection to the vehicle, the K15 utilizes a much easier quick-connect for refueling. This type of connection dramatically reduces fugitive emissions during the autogas fueling process, making it more environmentally friendly and increasing driver safety.

Fugitive emissions often escape during autogas refueling, but the quick-connect K15 releases 76% less emissions when compared to the ACME connector. Another benefit of the quick-connect K15 is that it offers a nearly identical refueling experience to gasoline or diesel. This familiarity has been proven to increase driver satisfaction with autogas and has shown an increase in gallons pumped.

What does this mean for propane fleets using the ACME connection next year? Nothing, unless a new vehicle is received or a vehicle is converted. The NFPA 58 code change is not retroactive to vehicles produced before Jan. 1, 2020. However, when a fleet receives a new propane vehicle or performs a conversion after Jan. 1, 2020, the K15 is a requirement.

This could create problems for existing refueling infrastructure if the ACME valve is used exclusively, however, to help fleets with the transition, adaptors are readily available, although they are not considered a long-term solution. Any existing ACME-equipped propane vehicle can quickly and easily be retrofitted with the K15 fueling valve, which is the preferred solution for fleets because it allows them to benefit from the advancement in propane vehicle refueling, increasing ease of operation and safety.

Fleets that are currently operating autogas vehicles should contact their fuel provider to better understand how the new regulation could affect them. Vehicles without the K15 connector risk losing access to public propane stations designed for the 2020 requirement. Quick-connect refueling nozzles, adaptors, and K15 refueling valves are available at local propane equipment distributors.

CenterPoint aims to use Alternative Fuels to Reduce Emissions

U.S. power producer CenterPoint Energy recently announced that it has set a target to cut emissions related to its operations by 70% by 2035 under its new Carbon Policy.

The Houston, Texas-based company also said it would cut its emissions related to natural gas usage in heating, appliances and equipment within the residential and commercial sectors by 20% to 30% by 2040.

To achieve its goals, CenterPoint will focus on continuing to develop alternative fuel programs and collaborate with suppliers to lower methane emissions.

The company said it was investing in renewable forms of energy and would partner with natural gas suppliers to take steps to lower their methane emissions across the natural gas value chain.