Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance News
OCTOBER 2023
Coalition NEWS
Clean Cities Celebrates 30 Years
The Clean Cities Coalition Network is celebrating 30 years of boosting the country’s energy security, economic vitality, and quality of life by advancing affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels and technologies. Over 30 years, the network has built bipartisan support, deep connections within the transportation industry, and active partnerships with 20,000 public and private stakeholders. Thriving on a culture of collaborative change, coalitions harness decades of deployment expertise to continue moving our transportation systems into the future.
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| Elizabeth Munger, our director, represented our stakeholders at the celebration in Washington, D.C. last month. |
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State & National News
Hilton Eyeing 20,000 Electric Vehicle Chargers
Beginning in early 2024, up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors are slated to be installed at 2,000 Hilton hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, making Hilton’s planned EV charging network the largest of any hospitality company. There will be at least six chargers at each of the selected hotels. “Through this expanded agreement with Tesla, we are significantly changing the landscape of universal EV chargers in North America in an incredibly short amount of time,” says Matt Schuyler, chief brand officer, Hilton. Of interest to the biofuel and bioenergy industries, the newly signed law establishes new tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), clean transportation fuels and clean hydrogen. It also extends several existing tax credits that benefit transportation biofuels, such as renewable diesel and biodiesel, and includes funding for biofuel infrastructure development.
Grants & Funding
TCEQ TERP Grant Programs and Opening Dates
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/terp/programs
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| STATUS |
Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants Program (ERIG) | CLOSED | |
Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grants Program (TNGVGP) | CLOSED | |
Seaport & Rail Yard Areas Emissions Reduction Program(SPRY) | CLOSED | |
Texas Clean Fleet Program (TCFP) | CLOSED | |
Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program (LDPLIP) | OPENING SOON | |
Rebate Grant Program (Rebate) | CLOSED | |
Texas Clean School Bus Program (TCSB) | CLOSED | |
| Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) | CLOSED | |
OPENING SOON | ||
Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF) | CLOSED |
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)
Program Accepting Applications
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has announced the 2022-2023 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grant Program. Funding is now available for projects that will reduce emissions coming from existing diesel vehicles. The program plans to give out approximately $115 million in funds to applicants.
DERA applications are due by Friday, December 1, 2023. To learn more about eligibility and this opportunity, please go here.
Announcing the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program
This is the second rebate funding opportunity through the multi-year funding program. Under the 2023 Rebate Program, EPA anticipates awarding at least $500 million in rebate funding with the potential to modify this figure based on the application pool and other factors.
Eligible applicants can apply to receive funding for the purchase of up to 25 zero-emission (ZE) and/or clean school buses, along with ZE charging infrastructure and eligible workforce development costs. Selectees may be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases. For example, the Clean Vehicle tax credits for qualifying school buses are worth up to $40,000.
EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, rural areas, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and public school districts receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land. In addition, EPA is committed to ensuring the CSB Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative that at least 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities.
Applicants must submit all application materials by:
January 31st, 2024, at 4:00PM ET
EPA plans to host a series of public webinars regarding this rebate funding opportunity from now through January to provide potential applicants with an overview of the program, relevant information and available resources.
The first webinar was held on September 28th, and the webinar recording and slides are posted to the Clean School Bus Webinars webpage.
View and register for the CSB Rebate Program public webinars.
The TCEQ has opened their first-come, first-served $87 million all-electric grant program, via the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program. Funding for the program will be allocated based on priority areas, and project categories. The program is designed for Class 8 Local Freight Trucks and Port Drayage Trucks, Class 4-8 School Bus, Shuttle Bus, or Transit Buses, Class 4-7 Local Freight Trucks, Airport Ground Support Equipment, and Forklifts and Port Cargo Handling Equipment.
Major notes about the program:
- Private entities will receive 75% of the incremental costs of replacing vehicles
- Refueling infrastructure costs can be covered, only with an application for vehicle replacement
- Vehicles replaced must be owned and operated in Texas for two years prior to applying, with at least five years of useful life remaining
- At least 51% of the grant-funded vehicle must occur within a Priority Area
Additional details about the program, including grant totals by project area and details about application requirements and submissions, are posted here in this webinar
If you have any questions, or reach out directly to TCEQ staff Krista Edwards & Jack Frin
k, Grant Specialists, at VWSettle@tceq.Texas.gov and by calling (833) 215-TXVEMP (8989).
Still plenty of money available in this one!
Clean Cities Events
Upcoming Lunch and Learn Webinar Workshop
How to Apply for the Natural Gas and Propane
Motor Vehicle Federal Tax Credit Webinar Workshop
December 5, 2023 12:00 noon – 12:45 pm Central Time
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has extended the $0.50/Gallon Natural Gas/Propane Federal Tax Credit through December 31, 2024.
Heather Ball of the Texas Natural Gas Foundation will walk us through how to claim the credit. If you own natural gas or propane vehicles or forklifts and fuel at your refueling site, you are eligible to claim the credit. This includes public fleets, non-profits and private companies. You do not need to pay taxes to claim the credit.
| Register |
Wondering How to Right Size your Fleet? Here's another chance to Test Drive AYRO's newly released Vanish!
The AYRO Vanish is a utility low-speed electric vehicle (LSEV) addressing a market that falls between full size trucks and golf and utility carts. The vehicle offers highly adaptable bed configurations to support both light-duty and heavy-duty needs in a variety of applications.
Join LSCFA member, AYRO, for an exclusive opportunity to get behind the wheel of the 2023 AYRO Vanish. During this one-of-a-kind event, you’ll have the opportunity to test drive their newest vehicle, and their team of experts will be on hand to guide you through all the features and capabilities of the vehicle as well as answer any questions.
October 19, 2023 4:00 – 7:00 PM at
AYRO HQ in Round Rock
To attend register here.
Thank you to our members!
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