2012 AIR QUALITY INITIATIVES REPORT

REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PLANNING COMMITTEEJULY 25, 2013

BOOK INTRODUCTION

• Produced annually for:• Local governments

• Transportation stakeholders

• General public

• Outlines: • Public outreach efforts

• Program participation levels

• Emissions reductions

• Vehicle Miles Traveled reductions

EMISSION REDUCTION STRATEGIES AT H-GAC

• Clean Cities Program

• Clean Vehicles Program

• Clean Vessels Program

• Commute Solutions

• Ride Match (NuRide)

• Regional Vanpool Program

• Commuter and Transit ServicesPilot Projects

• Telework

• Clean Air Champions

• Regional TERP

• Drayage Loan Program

HGB 8-county nonattainment area

GREATER HOUSTON CLEAN CITIES COALITION• The Greater Houston Clean Cities Coalition develops public/private

partnerships to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, increased fuel economy, hybrid vehicles & idling reduction

• In 2012, the program reduced over 2 million gallons of gasoline equivalent and over 17,400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions

ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND ALTERNATIVE FUELING SITES

• Friendswood ISD and Angleton ISD each began operating four CNG school buses purchased with Clean Vehicles grants

• 12 CNG and 6 LNG refueling stations serve local fleets and Houston residents

• Six of the stations began operations in 2012

• TCEQ has recently awarded $1.3 million to local companies for construction of new natural gas refueling infrastructure.

• At the end of 2012, there were 150 electric vehicle charging stations constructed in the H-GAC region

• The City of Houston has 15 Prius vehicles converted to plug-in electric vehicles, 25 all-electric Nissan Leaf vehicles, and launched a car sharing program for electric and hybrid vehicles

CLEAN VEHICLES PROGRAM

• Grant assistance to retrofit and replace older diesel engines in both public & private fleet

• Since its start, the program has:

• Provided $78+ million in financial aid

• Replaced over 2,700 engines &

• Developed several alternative fueling stations

• In 2012, the program reduced 225 tons of NOx

COMMUTE SOLUTIONS• Goals

• Reduction of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions

• Congestion mitigation

• Program focus

• Move more people in fewer vehicles / reduce single occupant vehicles

• Use transportation that does not contribute to congestion and pollution

• Reduce the number of people commuting during rush hours

• Eliminate the need to commute to work

• Program includes

• Telework/ Alternative Work Schedules

• Ride Match (Nuride) /Carpool/ Vanpool/ School Pool

• Pilot Transit Projects

RIDE MATCH (NURIDE)

• One of the largest and most successful web-based rideshare programs in the nation – resulting in over 24 tons NOx reduced in 2012

COMMUTER AND TRANSIT SERVICESPILOT PROJECTS

• More than 13 pilot projects have been implemented using a combination of federal funds and local matching funds

• Over $520,000 of federal CMAQ funds was invested in 2011 - resulting in over 8,000,000 VMT reduced

TELEWORK• Helps regional employers and employees by educating about the

benefits of teleworking and offering financial incentives to develop and implement telework programs

• 1,471 teleworkers participated in the program in 2012

• Anticipate an additional 1,000 participants by the end of 2013

CLEAN AIR CHAMPION PROGRAMRecognizes Clean Air Champions for taking proactive steps to

improve the region’s air quality in the HGB nonattainment region in two categories:

• Clean Air Champion for Commuters: Commuter benefits include: • Transit passes

• Vanpool incentives

• NuRide/ carpool rewards

• Teleworking/ alternative work schedules

• Amenities for walkers and bikers; and many more

• Clean Air Champion for Fleets: Clean fleet policies include: • Committing to accelerated fleet turnover

• Promoting the use of alternative fuels

• Adopting a no-idling policy; and more

Recognition at annual Clean Air Action Leadership Awards Luncheon

http://www.mysolutionis.com/hr-management/clean-air-champions/default.aspx

REGIONAL TEXAS EMISSION REDUCTION PLAN

• The most successful TERP programs in the state

• Provided $3,566,859 in grant funds and over 407 tons NOx reductions over a seven-year period

• Produced an investment of $8,759 per ton of NOx reduced

• Helped leverage funds in the Drayage Loan Program and replace 46 drayage trucks

DRAYAGE LOAN PROGRAM• A low-interest “bridge loan” program that enables eligible

truck owners to finance the purchase of newer, cleaner trucks.

• Loans between $5,000 and $150,000

• Over the life of the program, the following emission reductions are anticipated

• 885.64 tons of NOx

• 14.4 tons of PM• 14.81 tons of VOC’s• 129.22 tons of CO

• 1,965.93 tons CO2

CONTACT INFORMATION

Shelley Whitworth

Transportation Program Manager

Houston-Galveston Area Council

713-499-6695

Shelley.Whitworth@h-gac.com

Overview of H-GAC Air Quality Programs