Honorable Patricia Harless, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1115 by Raney (Relating to the eligibility for grants for natural gas fueling stations under the Texas natural gas vehicle grant program.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add state highways within the original triangle formed by the interstate highways connecting Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio to the area for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) can award Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) grants to support the development of a network of natural gas vehicle fueling stations. The added state highways would be those identified under the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) State Highway System Plan within the Clean Transportation Triangle (CTT). The bill requires that fueling stations be within three miles of one of the designated state highways or the interstate highways. The bill also repeals Health and Safety Code, Chapter 393 added by Senate Bill 20, 82nd Legislature, 2011, Regular Session, that duplicates the provisions of Health and Safety Code, Chapter 394 added by Senate Bill 385, 82nd Legislature, 2011, Regular Session.
The bill would expand the number of highways that are listed under the CTT Program and expand the area and counties where vehicles may travel and be eligible for funding under the Natural Gas Vehicle Grants (NGVG) program within the TERP.
The TCEQ would be required to modify grant materials and forms to implement the bill’s provisions. The agency would expect an increase in the number of eligible entities that could apply for CTT grant funds. This estimate assumes that no additional funds would be appropriated out of the General Revenue-Dedicated TERP Account No. 5071, and that the bill simply expands the number of entities eligible to apply for funding. If additional TERP Account No. 5071 funds were appropriated, it is likely that more fueling stations would receive grants.
Local Government Impact
A unit of local government applying for a grant under the NGVG program could experience increased competition for grant funding since the area in which NGVG program grants could be awarded would be expanded by the bill.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality