82R10629 JAM-F
 
  By: Strama H.B. No. 2938
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a grant program for certain natural gas motor vehicles.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 386.252(a), Health and Safety Code, as
  amended by Chapters 1125 (H.B. 1796) and 1232 (S.B. 1759), Acts of
  the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Money in the fund may be used only to implement and
  administer programs established under the plan and shall be
  allocated as follows:
               (1)  for the diesel emissions reduction incentive
  program, 87.5 percent of the money in the fund, of which:
                     (A)  not more than four percent may be used for the
  clean school bus program;
                     (B)  not more than 10 percent may be used for
  on-road diesel purchase or lease incentives; [and]
                     (C)  a specified amount may be used for the new
  technology implementation grant program, from which a defined
  amount may be set aside for electricity storage projects related to
  renewable energy;
                     (D)  five percent shall be used for the clean
  fleet program;
                     (E)  not less than 16 percent shall be used for the
  natural gas vehicle rebate program; and
                     (F)  not more than four percent may be used to
  provide grants for natural gas fueling stations under Section
  393.009;
               (2)  for the new technology research and development
  program, nine percent of the money in the fund, of which:
                     (A)  up to $200,000 is allocated for a health
  effects study;
                     (B)  $500,000 is to be deposited in the state
  treasury to the credit of the clean air account created under
  Section 382.0622 to supplement funding for air quality planning
  activities in affected counties;
                     (C)  not less than 20 percent is to be allocated
  each year to support research related to air quality as provided by
  Section 387.010; and
                     (D)  the balance is allocated each year to the
  commission to be used to:
                           (i)  implement and administer the new
  technology research and development program for the purpose of
  identifying, testing, and evaluating new emissions-reducing
  technologies with potential for commercialization in this state and
  to facilitate their certification or verification; and
                           (ii)  contract with the Energy Systems
  Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station for $216,000
  annually for the development and annual computation of creditable
  statewide emissions reductions obtained through wind and other
  renewable energy resources for the state implementation plan; and
               (3)  two percent is allocated to the commission and 1.5
  percent is allocated to the laboratory for administrative costs
  incurred by the commission and the laboratory.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 393 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 393. TEXAS NATURAL GAS VEHICLE GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 393.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
               (2)  "Executive director" means the executive director
  of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
               (3)  "Heavy-duty motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle
  with:
                     (A)  a gross vehicle weight rating of more than
  10,000 pounds; and
                     (B)  an engine certified to the United States
  Environmental Protection Agency's standards for heavy-duty
  engines.
               (4)  "Incremental cost" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 386.001.
               (5)  "Motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 386.151.
               (6)  "Natural gas vehicle" means a motor vehicle that
  receives not less than 75 percent of its power from compressed or
  liquefied natural gas.
               (7)  "Program" means the Texas natural gas vehicle
  grant program established under this chapter.
         Sec. 393.002.  PROGRAM. The commission shall establish and
  administer the Texas natural gas vehicle grant program to encourage
  an entity that has a heavy-duty motor vehicle to repower the vehicle
  with a natural gas engine or replace the vehicle with a natural gas
  vehicle. Under the program, the commission shall provide grants
  for eligible heavy-duty motor vehicles to offset the incremental
  cost for the entity of repowering or replacing the heavy-duty motor
  vehicle.
         Sec. 393.003.  QUALIFYING VEHICLES. (a)  A vehicle is a
  qualifying vehicle that may be considered for a grant under the
  program if during the calendar year the entity:
               (1)  purchased or leased the vehicle as a new on-road
  heavy-duty motor vehicle that:
                     (A)  is a natural gas vehicle;
                     (B)  is certified to current federal emissions
  standards;
                     (C)  replaces an on-road heavy-duty motor vehicle
  of the same weight classification and use; and
                     (D)  is powered by an engine certified to emit not
  more than 0.2 grams of nitrogen oxides per brake horsepower hour; or
               (2)  repowered the on-road heavy-duty motor vehicle to
  a natural gas vehicle powered by a natural gas engine that:
                     (A)  is certified to current federal emissions
  standards; and
                     (B)  is certified to emit not more than 0.2 grams
  of nitrogen oxides per brake horsepower hour.
         (b)  A heavy-duty motor vehicle is not a qualifying vehicle
  if the vehicle or the natural gas engine powering the vehicle:
               (1)  has been used as a qualifying vehicle to receive a
  grant under this chapter for a previous reporting period or by
  another entity; or
               (2)  has received a similar grant or tax credit in
  another jurisdiction if that grant or tax credit program is relied
  on for credit in the state implementation plan.
         Sec. 393.004.  APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a)  Only an entity
  operating in this state that operates a heavy-duty motor vehicle
  may apply for and receive a grant under this chapter.
         (b)  An application for a grant under this chapter must be
  made on a form provided by the commission and must contain the
  information required by the commission.
         (c)  The commission, after consulting stakeholders, shall:
               (1)  simplify the application form; and
               (2)  minimize, to the extent feasible, documentation
  required for an application.
         Sec. 393.005.  ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS. (a)  The commission
  by rule shall establish criteria for prioritizing qualifying
  vehicles eligible to receive grants under this chapter. The
  commission shall review and revise the criteria as appropriate.
         (b)  To be eligible for a grant under the program:
               (1)  the use of the qualifying vehicle must be
  projected to result in a reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides
  of at least 25 percent as compared to the heavy-duty motor vehicle
  or engine being replaced, based on:
                     (A)  the baseline emission level set by the
  commission under Subsection (g); and
                     (B)  the certified emission rate of the new
  vehicle; and
               (2)  the qualifying vehicle must:
                     (A)  replace a heavy-duty motor vehicle that:
                           (i)  is an on-road vehicle that has been
  owned or leased and registered and operated by the applicant in
  Texas for at least the two years immediately preceding the
  submission of a grant application;
                           (ii)  satisfies any minimum average annual
  mileage or fuel usage requirements established by the commission;
                           (iii)  satisfies any minimum percentage of
  annual usage requirements established by the commission; and
                           (iv)  is in operating condition and has at
  least two years of remaining useful life, as determined in
  accordance with criteria established by the commission; or
                     (B)  be a heavy-duty motor vehicle repowered with
  a natural gas engine that:
                           (i)  is installed in an on-road vehicle that
  has been owned or leased and registered and operated by the
  applicant in Texas for at least the two years immediately preceding
  the submission of a grant application;
                           (ii)  satisfies any minimum average annual
  mileage or fuel usage requirements established by the commission;
                           (iii)  satisfies any minimum percentage of
  annual usage requirements established by the commission; and
                           (iv)  at the time of the vehicle's repowering
  with a natural gas engine, the vehicle was in operating condition
  and had at least two years of remaining useful life, as determined
  in accordance with criteria established by the commission.
         (c)  As a condition of receiving a grant, the qualifying
  vehicle must be continuously owned or leased and registered and
  operated in the state by the grant recipient until the earlier of
  the fourth anniversary of the date of reimbursement of the
  grant-funded expenses or until the date the vehicle has been in
  operation for 400,000 miles. Not less than 75 percent of the annual
  use of the qualifying vehicle, either mileage or fuel use as
  determined by the commission, must occur in the counties any part of
  which are included in the area described by Section 393.010(a).
         (d)  The commission shall include and enforce the usage
  provisions in the grant contracts. The commission shall monitor
  compliance with the ownership, leasing, and usage requirements,
  including submission of reports on at least an annual basis, or more
  frequently as determined by the commission.
         (e)  The commission by contract may require the return of all
  or a portion of grant funds for a grant recipient's noncompliance
  with the usage and percentage of use requirements under this
  section.
         (f)  A heavy-duty motor vehicle or engine replaced under this
  program must be rendered permanently inoperable by crushing the
  vehicle, by making a hole in the engine block and permanently
  destroying the frame of the vehicle, or by another method approved
  by the commission that permanently removes the vehicle from
  operation in this state. The commission shall establish criteria
  for ensuring the permanent destruction of the engine and vehicle.
  The commission shall enforce the destruction requirements.
         (g)  The commission shall establish baseline emission levels
  for emissions of nitrogen oxides for on-road heavy-duty motor
  vehicles being replaced by using the emission certification for the
  engine or vehicle being replaced.  The commission may consider
  deterioration of the emission performance of the engine of the
  vehicle being replaced in establishing the baseline emission level.  
  The commission may consider and establish baseline emission rates
  for additional pollutants of concern, as determined by the
  commission.
         (h)  Mileage or fuel use requirements established by the
  commission under Subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii) may differ by vehicle
  weight categories and type of use.
         (i)  The executive director may waive the requirements of
  Subsection (b)(2)(A)(i) on a finding of good cause, including short
  lapses in registration or operation due to economic conditions,
  seasonal work, or other circumstances.
         Sec. 393.006.  RESTRICTION ON USE OF GRANT. A recipient of a
  grant under this chapter shall use the grant to pay the incremental
  costs of the replacement for which the grant is made, which may
  include the initial cost of the natural gas vehicle or natural gas
  engine and the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for the
  labor needed to install emissions-reducing equipment. The
  recipient may not use the grant to pay the recipient's
  administrative expenses.
         Sec. 393.007.  AMOUNT OF GRANT. (a)  The commission shall
  develop a grant schedule that:
               (1)  assigns a standardized grant in an amount between
  60 and 90 percent of the incremental cost of a natural gas vehicle
  purchase, lease, or repowering; and
               (2)  is based on:
                     (A)  the certified emission level of nitrogen
  oxides, or other pollutants as determined by the commission, of the
  engine powering the natural gas vehicle;
                     (B)  the overall emissions reduction achieved by
  the natural gas vehicle; and
                     (C)  the usage of the natural gas vehicle.
         (b)  Not less than 50 percent of the total amount of grants
  awarded under this chapter for the purchase and repowering of motor
  vehicles must be awarded to motor vehicles with a gross vehicle
  weight rating of at least 33,001 pounds.  The minimum grant
  requirement under this subsection does not apply if the commission
  does not receive enough grant applications to satisfy the
  requirement for motor vehicles described by this subsection that
  are eligible to receive a grant under this chapter.
         Sec. 393.008.  GRANT PROCEDURES. (a)  The commission shall
  adopt procedures for:
               (1)  awarding grants under this chapter in the form of
  rebates; and
               (2)  streamlining the grant application, contracting,
  reimbursement, and reporting process for qualifying natural gas
  vehicle purchases or repowers.
         (b)  Procedures adopted under this section must:
               (1)  provide for a listing compiled by the commission
  of pre-approved natural gas vehicles powered by natural gas engines
  certified to emit not more than 0.2 grams of nitrogen oxides per
  brake horsepower hour;
               (2)  provide a method to calculate the reduction in
  emissions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon
  monoxide, particulate matter, and sulfur compounds for each
  replacement or repowering;
               (3)  assign a standardized rebate amount for each
  qualifying vehicle under Section 393.007;
               (4)  allow for processing rebates on an ongoing
  first-come, first-served basis;
               (5)  provide for contracts between the commission and
  participating dealers under Section 393.009;
               (6)  allow grant recipients to assign their grant funds
  to participating dealers to offset the purchase or lease price;
               (7)  require grant applicants to identify natural gas
  fueling stations that are available to fuel the qualifying vehicle
  in the area of its use;
               (8)  provide for payment not later than the 30th day
  after the date a grant is approved;
               (9)  provide for application submission and
  application status checks to be made over the Internet; and
               (10)  consolidate, simplify, and reduce the
  administrative work for applicants and the commission associated
  with grant application, contracting, reimbursement, and reporting
  requirements.
         (c)  The commission, or its designee, shall oversee the grant
  process and is responsible for final approval of any grant.
         (d)  Grant recipients are responsible for meeting all grant
  conditions, including reporting and monitoring as required by the
  commission through the grant contract.
         Sec. 393.009.  PARTICIPATING DEALERS.  (a)  In this section,
  "participating dealer" means a person who:
               (1)  sells or leases on-road heavy-duty natural gas
  vehicles or heavy-duty natural gas engines; and
               (2)  has satisfied all requirements established by the
  commission for participation in the program as a dealer.
         (b)  A participating dealer must agree to the terms and
  conditions of a standardized contract developed by the commission.
         (c)  A participating dealer shall:
               (1)  provide information regarding natural gas vehicle
  grants to fleet operators;
               (2)  assist an applicant who purchases or leases a
  natural gas vehicle or engine from the dealer with the completion of
  the application; and
               (3)  submit completed applications and documentation
  to the commission on behalf of an applicant who purchases or leases
  a natural gas vehicle or engine from the dealer.
         (d)  A participating dealer may not approve a grant.
         (e)  The commission shall:
               (1)  maintain and make available to the public online a
  list of all qualified dealers; and
               (2)  establish requirements for participation in the
  program by sellers of on-road heavy-duty natural gas vehicles and
  natural gas engines.
         Sec. 393.010.  CLEAN TRANSPORTATION TRIANGLE.  (a) To
  ensure that natural gas vehicles purchased or leased or repowered
  under the program have access to fuel, and to build the foundation
  for a self-sustaining market for natural gas vehicles in Texas, the
  commission shall award grants to support the development of a
  network of natural gas vehicle fueling stations along the
  interstate highways between Houston, San Antonio, and the
  Dallas-Fort Worth area. In awarding the grants, the commission
  shall provide for:
               (1)  strategically placed natural gas vehicle fueling
  stations in and between the Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort
  Worth areas to enable a natural gas vehicle to travel along that
  triangular area relying solely on natural gas fuel;
               (2)  grants to be dispersed through a competitive
  bidding process to offset a portion of the cost of installation of
  the natural gas dispensing equipment;
               (3)  contracts that require the recipient stations to
  meet operational, maintenance, and reporting requirements as
  specified by the commission; and
               (4)  a listing, to be maintained by the commission and
  made available to the public online, of all natural gas vehicle
  fueling stations that have received grant funding, including
  location and hours of operation.
         (b)  The commission may not award more than three station
  grants to any entity.
         (c)  Stations funded by grants under this section must be
  publicly accessible and located not more than three miles from an
  interstate highway system. The commission shall give preference
  to:
               (1)  stations providing both liquefied natural gas and
  compressed natural gas at a single location; and
               (2)  stations located not more than one mile from an
  interstate highway system.
         (d)  To meet the goals of this section, the commission may
  solicit grant applications under this section for a new fueling
  station in a specific area or location.
         (e)  Grants made under this section are not subject to the
  requirements of Sections 393.002 through 393.008. The commission
  shall develop an application package and review applications in
  accordance with Sections 386.110 and 386.111.
         (f)  The commission, in consultation with the natural gas
  industry, shall determine the most efficient use of funding for the
  station grants under this section to maximize the availability of
  natural gas fueling stations.
         Sec. 393.011.  ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR NATURAL GAS
  VEHICLES. The commission shall work with the Texas Department of
  Transportation and local transportation authorities to provide
  additional incentives for natural gas vehicles such as access to
  high occupancy vehicle lanes and preferred parking in urban areas.
         Sec. 393.012.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. The commission
  may contract with one or more entities for administration of the
  program.
         Sec. 393.013.  EXPIRATION. This chapter expires August 31,
  2017.
         SECTION 3.  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  shall adopt rules and establish procedures under Chapter 393,
  Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
  over another Act of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011,
  relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
  codes.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.