• Program Name: Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP)
  Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive (LDPLI) Program


• Funding Source: State; funding pending


• Sponsoring Agency: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality


• Program Description: 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. To be eligible, the vehicles must meet EPA's Tier 2 Bin 4 or cleaner NOx emissions standards and must have been purchased or leased after August 1, 2002. The rebates are subject to available funding.


• Participation Eligibility & Requirements: New 2003, or later model year leased or purchased on or after August 1, 2002, and registered in Texas; gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds; 75% of mileage driven within the state; and certified by the U.S. EPA to meet stringent emission standards.A list of qualifying vehicles is available at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/terp/ld.html.
  
• Pollutant Reduced: NOx


• Reduction Methodology: Use of light-duty vehicles meeting EPA’s Tier 2 bin or cleaner.


• Reporting and Other Obligations: Go to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/terp/ld.html for more information.


• Costs: Purchase or lease of light duty vehicle(s)


• Benefits: When funded, the program will offer incentives from $1,250 to $5,000 on the purchase or lease of new low-emission motor vehicles.


• Other: Due to funding limitations, you should first contact the Comptroller at 1-800-252-1382 for an update on incentive availability.
  

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• Program Name: Alternative Fuels Data Center


• Funding Source: U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program


• Program Description: The Alternative Fuels Data Center is a collection of information on alternative fuels and the vehicles that use them. Alternative fuels described here are those defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, including biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane. The site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system, current listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, and lots of alternative fuels information and related links.  Site may be accessed at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/.


• Reduction Methodology: Use of cleaner burning fuels


• Benefits: Air improvement and reduced dependence on foreign oil
  

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• Program Name: Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants Program


• Funding Source: State


• Sponsoring Agency: Grant funds are awarded through The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
.

• Program Description: The TERP Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants Program provides financial incentives for voluntary reductions in NOx emissions from vehicles and equipment. Applicable NOx reduction strategies include purchasing cleaner equipment, replacing old diesel vehicles and equipment, retrofitting engines with emission reduction technology, and installing clean-fuel infrastructure.


• Participation Eligibility & Requirements: Funding is available to public, private, and non-profit organizations for projects located in forty-one Texas counties including Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson. For additional information on eligible projects, go to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/rg/rg-388.html
.

• Reduction Methodology: Reductions are achieved through the upgrade of vehicles and equipment such as construction equipment, cranes, tractors, heavy-duty trucks, and school buses.


• Reporting and Other Obligations: An example grant contract, financial and report forms, guidelines, and other information may be obtained at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/terp/ld.html
•  
• Costs: Grantee purchases cleaner equipment, retrofit equipment, or some other eligible vehicle/equipment.


• Benefits: AACOG hosts periodic workshops on TERP programs and the grant application process. Contact the Alamo Area Clean Cities coordinator for more information.
  

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• Program Name: Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP)
  Small Business Grants Program


• Funding Source: State


• Sponsoring Agency: Grant funds are awarded through The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
.

• Program Description: The Small Business Grants program helps small businesses and others participate in the TERP program by providing incentives for replacement or repower of old vehicles and equipment
.

• Participation Eligibility & Requirements: Limited to businesses in forty-one Texas counties (including Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson) that own and operate one or two vehicles or pieces of equipment. Equipment must have been owned by applicant for at least one year.


• Reduction Methodology: Replace or repower older vehicles or equipment with cleaner equipment
.

• Reporting and Other Obligations: Application form and other information may be obtained at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/terp/ld.html
.

• Costs: Grantee purchases cleaner equipment, retrofit equipment, or some other eligible vehicle/equipment.


• Benefits: The project costs are partially offset by grant funds.


• Other: AACOG hosts periodic workshops on TERP programs and the grant application process. Contact the Alamo Area Clean Cities coordinator for more information.
  

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• Program Name: Propane Forklift Initiative Program


• Funding Source: State


• Sponsoring Agency: Railroad Commission of Texas


• Program Description: The Railroad Commission offers incentives to buyers of propane forklifts that meet 2004 EPA emission standards.


• Participation Eligibility & Requirements: Pre-2004 forklifts may be replaced by propane forklifts or engines that meet or exceed EPA’s 2004 emissions standards. Your business must have owned the forklift (s) you are replacing for the past two years and have operated the equipment in Texas during that time. If you apply for funding under the Propane Forklift Initiative, you may not apply for TERP funding for the same activity. For other requirements, see: http://www.propane.tx.gov/rebate_program/forklift.html


• Reduction Methodology: Replace pre-2004 forklifts with propane forklifts.
  
• Reporting and Other Obligations: The “Grant Estimator Worksheet” and other forms may be downloaded at: http://www.propane.tx.gov/rebate_program/forklift.html
.

• Costs: Equipment purchase


• Benefits: Air quality improvement and financial assistance with costs.
  

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• Program Name: SmartWay Transport Partnership


• Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


• Program Description: SmartWay Transport is a voluntary partnership between various freight industry sectors and EPA that establishes incentives for fuel efficiency improvements and emissions reductions. At the same time, the initiative will result in national fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of oil annually. There are three primary components of the program: creating partnerships, reducing all unnecessary engine idling, and increasing the efficiency and use of rail and intermodal operations.


• Participation Eligibility & Requirements: Both freight carriers and shippers may participate in the program. Freight carriers can find information on participation at: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway_fleets_basics.htm. Shippers may obtain information at: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway_shippers_basics.htm
.

• Reduction Methodology: Reducing unnecessary idling and maximizing rail efficiency and intermodal operations. Shippers promote these reductions by pledging to use SmartWay carriers.


• Reporting and Other Obligations: Reporting and Other Obligations


• Costs: Depends on reduction methodology
.

• Benefits: SmartWay Transport partners improve their energy efficiency, save money, reduce NOx and greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.


• Other: SmartWay Transport Partnership is researching available financing options, such as low-interest loans or revolving loans, to assist Partners in reducing unnecessary idling. A comprehensive list will be available on their website: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/index.htm
  
  

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• Program Name: Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program


• Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


• Program Description: The Diesel Retrofit Program works to reduce pollution resulting from existing diesel vehicles and equipment by encouraging fleet owners to install pollution-reducing devices on their vehicles and to use cleaner-burning diesel.


• Participation Eligibility & Requirements: See http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/overview.htm for details of program
.

• Reduction Methodology: There are several options available to fleet owners to reduce emissions: retiring older engines; converting engines to run on cleaner, alternative fuels like compressed natural gas; and retrofitting older engines with modern emission control technologies.


• Costs: Cost of replacing or retrofitting vehicles and equipment
.

• Benefits: Air quality improvement and possible financial assistance
.

• Other: Log onto http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/retrofunding.htm for a list of possible funding sources to assist with diesel retrofit projects.
  

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• Program Name: Green Vehicle Guide


• Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


• Program Description: EPA's Green Vehicle Guide provides information about the environmental performance of vehicles. This guide uses emission levels and fuel economy values to determine environmental scores for cars and trucks. Businesses can use this guide to replace their older vehicles with low emission counterparts. Vehicle rankings are provided by type: small car, pickup, van, etc. The Green Vehicle guide can be accessed at: http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/
.

• Reduction Methodology: Replace older fleet with low emission vehicles
.

• Reporting and Other Obligations: N/A


• Benefits: Fuel economy and emissions reductions
  

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• Program Name: Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center
  
• Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program


• Program Description: The Data Center lists light- and heavy-duty alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and provides comparisons of vehicle specifications.  The site includes related topics, such as technical training, fuel economy, and emissions.  The Data Center may be accessed at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/adfc/vehicles/index.html.
   
• Costs: Access is free.


• Benefits: Vehicles powered by domestically produced, clean alternative fuels and other energy efficient, advanced technology vehicles can help reduce our dependence on imported oil and improve air quality.
  

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For more information about the program or to consult with an ACAP team member about pollution reduction programs appropriate for your business, contact:

Brenda Williams
Projects Manager–Natural Resources Department
Alamo Area Council of Governments
8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 700
San Antonio, TX 78217
(210) 362-5246
bwilliams@aacog.com