Crucial funding for extra zero-emission vehicles in Texas is on the way in which. For the primary time ever, a Texas Fee on Environmental High quality grant program that gives incentives to switch heavy-duty diesel autos will assure that at the very least half of the funding awarded will go to tasks that embody zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The just lately introduced change will make this cash accessible within the subsequent spherical of grant funding for the Texas Clear Fleet Program, which will probably be open for functions quickly.
Nitrogen oxide from diesel vehicles contributes to local weather change whereas rising air air pollution and harming the well being of Texans. Our state is at the moment experiencing historic warmth, which might be immediately attributed to local weather change. By changing soiled diesel autos with clear options, Texas is taking direct intention at local weather and air air pollution.
Environmental Protection Fund submitted feedback on to the company requesting that at the very least 50% of funds accessible by way of the TCFP be put aside for zero-emission autos. Traditionally, a majority of the funds for this system’s grant cycles might go to liquefied pure fuel or compressed pure fuel vehicles. Main fleets and corporations additionally submitted related requests for the ZEV set-aside to the company – together with Daimler Truck, Volvo, Discussion board Mobility, Navistar and CMA CGM.
TCEQ publicizes crucial new funding dedication for zero-emission vehicles Click on To Tweet
Along with the funding set-aside, the company offered readability that they are going to clarify pointers for waiver requests for third-party scrappage accessible for the funding course of, a change that additionally comes following months of advocacy from EDF and our allies. A 3rd-party scrappage course of will enable fleets that don’t have sufficiently old vehicles to qualify for this system – however are ready to make the most of incentives to assist cowl the prices of recent ZEV vehicles – to associate with a distinct entity that is able to take away a diesel-powered car from the street, thus fulfilling the substitute element of present “scrappage” pointers.
The brand new dedication from TCEQ is a vital step ahead for Texas and comes not a second too quickly. Regardless of making up solely about 4% of the autos on the street in Texas, medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles are liable for 90% of transportation-related nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel sources. This air pollution is projected to develop, as demand for freight moved by vehicles is on observe to extend about 25% by 2030.
EDF is working with a number of state businesses to advance crucial infrastructure for ZEV vehicles. In current weeks, EDF has submitted feedback to the Texas Division of Transportation and Public Utility Fee on the next subjects:
- ZEV charging infrastructure: EDF submitted feedback to TxDOT relating to the state’s draft Nationwide Electrical Automobile Infrastructure plan. Although present NEVI {dollars} are centered on light-duty electrical autos, making a statewide charging community for electrical autos ought to take into sturdy consideration the charging infrastructure wants of industrial quality autos, as effectively, and prioritize putting new infrastructure in environmental justice communities which might be disproportionately impacted by nitrogen oxide and different polluting emissions from all diesel autos.
- Grid reliability: EDF additionally submitted feedback to the PUC relating to distributed vitality useful resource planning. Because the PUC and different businesses proceed to reshape the Texas vitality market, the improved implementation of DER capability is a dramatically inexpensive possibility than the state’s present plan of buying billions in largely soiled reserve energy. Permitting extra vitality seize and storage all through the state can even create improved grid reliability for the freeway charging infrastructure wants throughout the state within the years to return.
EDF will proceed working with every of those state businesses to advance ZEV truck infrastructure and investments within the months forward, each by way of rulemaking alternatives and for the subsequent legislative session, which is about to start out in 5 months.