During the 82nd Session, the Texas Legislature passed legislation enabling the development of the Texas Clean Transportation Triangle (TCTT) (SB 20). The legislation allocates 20 percent (approx. $10 million per year) of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) to support the conversion of heavy-duty fleet vehicles to natural gas vehicles( NGVs) and the development of new natural gas infrastructure within the Texas Triangle.

• 80 percent of the funding will go toward heavy-duty NGV rebates, helping to offset a portion of incremental cost.
• 20 percent of the funding will go toward grants for CNG/LNG refueling infrastructure grants along the TCTT.

TCEQ is currently writing rules for the program’s implementation. Infrastructure grants were available in Fall 2011 and vehicle rebates are expected to be available by summer 2012.

TCTT Benefits

• More than $135 million in direct investment in the Texas economy will support nearly 1,000 clean-fuel technology jobs.
• Heavy-duty fleet operators report 30-40 percent cost savings for natural gas fleet operations compared to diesel. 
• More than $30 million in fuel costs savings, using lower cost Texas-produced natural gas in place of more expensive diesel fuel, can be invested back into Texas businesses, jobs and the Texas economy.
• Reduced reliance on foreign energy, by displacing more than 41 million gallons of petroleum-diesel fuel use with more than 6 billion cubic feet (bcf) of Texas produced natural gas. (Source: Gladstein, Neandross & Associates)
• Replacing heavy-duty diesel trucks, the most significant contributors to urban air-quality problems, with clean-burning, low-emission NGVs offers one of the best potential strategies to improve Texas  air quality and meet air quality standards.
• Emission benefits from the implementation of the TCTT is the equivalent of taking more than 175,000 cars off Texas highways in the state’s most populated areas.

Read about other current legislation: Texas Law for Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing Additives (HB 3328)