TCEQ says $30 million is available for qualifying replacements or conversions of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, with grants covering up to 90% of eligible incremental costs.
Comal County is within the local-government applicant class named by TCEQ, and its Purchasing Office is the county’s central point for procurement across county departments.
The grant round is also open to individuals, state governments, corporations and other legal entities with eligible Texas-registered vehicles. Projects may replace a diesel or gasoline vehicle with a qualifying natural-gas vehicle or repower an existing vehicle with a certified natural-gas engine.
Vehicle use is the harder test. TCEQ says a qualifying vehicle must operate at least 75% of its annual use within the Clean Transportation Zone for the earlier of four years or 400,000 miles. Eligible fuels include compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Central Oct. 20 or when all available money has been awarded. Applicants may place as many as 10 vehicles on one application, giving local governments and businesses a defined window to compare a grant-supported replacement with an ordinary fleet purchase.