The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently accepting applications for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) TCSB. Approximately $6.2 million in grants is available state-wide for school districts, charter schools, and transportation systems provided by countywide school districts, to replace or retrofit school buses operating on a regular daily route to and from school.

Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis to reimburse up to 80% of the cost to replace a school bus with a newer, cleaner model, and up to 100% of the cost to retrofit a school bus.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on December 17, 2020 or until all funding is awarded.

For more information on the grant program and to access up-to-date information on the application criteria and process, or to receive copies of the application forms, visit www.terpgrants.org 

Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance, along with our partners Eanes ISD, Specialty Propane Services, Roush Cleantech, Rush Bus Centers and ICOM North America/Nat-G hosted 10 school districts last month at a roundtable meeting to share technical information and upcoming grant opportunities available for clean school buses and fueling infrastructure.

There are multiple resources available to help you.  You can visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center’s (AFDC) Batteries for Hybrid and PEVs page for an overview. 

The Department of Energy has committed multiple resources to PEV battery recycling including their ReCell Center, a Lithium Ion Battery Recycling Prize and Argonne National Lab’s Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Publications.

With thousands of new EVs coming off of leases, used EVs are more available and more affordable than ever before, with some available for under $10,000.
Here’s a handy Used EV Buyer’s Guide.

And don’t forget to think about charging options before you buy it!

Consumers seeking information about plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles can check out a vehicle purchase guidance tool created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.
The consumer education tool, “EVolution: Education on E-Drive Vehicles” – which originally debuted for Midwest states in early 2018 – is now available for consumers nationwide.

Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance, as a part of the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, participates annually in a national training session with approximately 90 Clean Cities Coalitions from across the nation. Our director, Elizabeth Munger, third from left, represented Central Texas along with the other 3 Texas Clean Cities Coordinators (Lori Clark, DFW; Andrew DeCandis, Houston Galveston Area and Lyle Hufstetler, Alamo Area).  A national list of Coordinators can be found here on the DOE’s Clean Cities website.