Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance News

March 2024

Coalition Activities

Our resource guide includes tips and background information from our most recent webinar that covered all TERP Grant programs including the current OPEN Funding Opportunites.

Resource Guide Includes:

Top Tips from Webinar Presenters

Review grant application prerequisites in advance, and gather all necessary documentation. Full Clean School Bus documentation list in resource guide.
Prioritize prompt submission; some grants operate on a first-come, first-served basis and have limited availability.
Collaborate with another member of your team to minimize errors.
Develop a strategic plan for your funding and equipment before initiating the grant application process.

Judy joined our Coalition as a very part-time bookkeeper in 2016. Her role grew quickly as her skill set became apparent: she initiated new financial systems, revamped others, deciphered and documented procedures, and revamped our accounting system. She expanded into coordinating event support, brought the newsletter in-house, and many other things. She was a critical part of our Rural Mobility Grant not only with the finances, but organizing key meetings and video shoots. Most of all- she enjoyed getting to know and interacting with all of you – our stakeholders.

Judy, we appreciate you and wish you a great retirement

Every 5 years Clean Cities Coalitions like ours undergo a comprehensive re-designation process through the the Department of Energy.

We just completed ours and are pleased that we earned that designation, with a big ‘Thank You’ to our partners.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office recognizes the commitment we have to our stakeholders, both new and existing to support and find new opportunities to use alternative fuels and efficient technologies. We have you to thank for our success and we hope to continue to serve you for many years to come. Our is goal to support you in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality for all.

We would like to give a special thanks to those who signed our Partnership Agreements and provided feedback to the DOE to help

STAKEHOLDER NEWs

The City of Cedar Park is one of our stakeholders, an early adopter in incorporating Electric Vehicles into their fleet and addressing theirs and the public’s EV charging needs. They purchased their first Nissan Leaf in 2018, and added two Nissan Leafs in 2022, covering the cost through their vehicle replacement fund. At the end of 2023, they used grant funding to purchase a Ford Transit for the library’s public outreach. This small but mighty EV fleet reduced over 3.5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.

In 2019, they entered into a lease agreement through an available Sourcewell contract with ChargePoint for three public-facing charging stations, each with two ports, located at the City Hall, Library, and Rec Center. Through this contract, the public can use the chargers by paying a nominal parking fee, where-as the city-owned EVs can use the chargers at no additional cost. In addition to the public-facing charging stations, they installed two non-smart charging stations at their public works facility which were purchased outright and installed by staff. With 2,200 EVs registered in Cedar Park, and a total of 13,278 EVs in Williamson County, the City has been proactive in meeting the needs of EV infrastructure.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be recognized!

If you have any questions or would like to recieve our Annual Survey email Julie@lonestarcfa.org

Click here to learn more about our Fleet Recognition Program.

Funding Opportunities

TCEQ TERP Grant Programs and Opening Dates

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program (Funding $10M)

Light-duty Program Now Accepting Grant Applications

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) is now accepting applications for the Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program. Grants are available statewide for eligible new light-duty motor vehicles powered by alternative fuel purchased or leased in Texas on or after September 1, 2023.

Eligible Projects:

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for up to 1,000 eligible compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane) vehicles.TCEQ is still accepting applications for compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (propane) vehicles.
Grants of up to $2,500 are available for up to 2,000 eligible electric drive (plug-in or plug-in hybrid) or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. No Longer Accepting Applications for Hydrogen Fuel Cell or Other Electric-Drive Vehicles.

Applications will be accepted and considered on a first-come, first-served basis until 5:00 p.m. on March 22, 2024 or until all available funds have been awarded.

Here are the step-by-step instructions to apply.

Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) (Funding $12M)

Grants for Alternative Fueling Facilities Program

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) is now accepting applications for the Alternative Fueling Facilities Program. Program. Grants are available statewide for eligible alternative fuel types for projects include: compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, or a combination of the two; hydrogen; biodiesel; biodiesel blends; propane; electricity; and methanol (at least 85% by volume).

Eligible Projects:

Biodiesel and biodiesel blends must meet the criteria in the Request for Grant Applications.
Eligible projects must include the construction or reconstruction of an alternative fueling facility.
Facilities that are open to the public will be considered for funding before private ones.

This is a competitive program based on criteria outlined in the Request for Grant Applications document and will be accepting grants until March 22, 2024.

Here are the step-by-step instructions to apply.

Texas Clean School Bus Program (TCSB) Funding $13.6M

Grants to Replace or Retrofit School Buses

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) is now accepting applications for the Texas Clean School Bus (TCSB) program, which is designed to reduce school children’s exposure to diesel exhaust from school buses. Grants are available statewide for eligible public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas. Private schools do not qualify for funding.

Eligible Projects:

Replacing pre-2007, diesel-fueled school buses with buses that are the current or previous model year at the time you apply. If a bus is used under a lease or lease-purchase agreement, it only qualifies as a retrofit project.
Purchasing and installing a retrofit system on an eligible school bus.
Applications will be accepted and considered on a first-come, first-served basis until October 14, 2024 or until all available funds have been awarded.
Here are the step-by-step instrustions to apply.

New Program Offers Free Technical Assistance to Develop Bus Fleet Electrification Plans

Technical Expert Assistance to Support Planning for Bus Electrification

The National Renewable Energy Labortory (NREL) and The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation are working together to provide The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) Program. The CBPA is not an incentive program, and fleets do not receive direct funding—rather, selected applicants will be allocated technical assistance resources by NREL.

Eligiblity to Apply:

All State and Local governmental entities providing bus service, including public school districts and charter schools.
Private school bus fleets with an active contractual agreement to serve a public school district
Nonprofit school transportation associations.
Tribes, tribal organizations, or tribally controlled schools responsible for the purchase of school buses or providing school bus service for a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-funded school.
Direct or designated recipients of FTA grants, including state and local governmental authorities, and tribes
Applications for assistance are open on a rolling basis through Sept. 30, 2024, giving fleets an opportunity to fully understand their needs before applying for support. This new program will reduce the burden of electrification by helping fleet managers create a step-by-step plan to transition their bus fleet. Learn more.

Upcoming Events

April 3rd, 2024 12-12:45 PM CST

Join our Lunch and Learn Webinar about the Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) Techincal Support Program, supported by the National Renewable Energy Labortory (NREL) and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

Learn more about this free support program where selected bus fleets can work with NREL to create a strong plan for adding electric buses to their fleet. and fleets do not receive direct funding—rather, selected applicants will be allocated technical assistance resources by NREL.

Click here or scroll to Funding Opportunities for more info.

May 29th, 2024 9 AM- 1:30 PM CST

Located at Oncor Service Center in Hutto

After registering, RSVP “yes” on Outlook invite for FREE Lunch.

For more information and to register

EV Charging Study

Oncor’s Energy Efficiency group is sponsoring an EV charging study with incentives for enrollment up to $10,000, participation up to $10,000, with a maximum incentive of $25,000.

There are still a few spots left, so please come to the EVolution session to learn more.