Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Clean Vehicle and Infrastructure Grants

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants (ERIG) Program and Rebate Grants Program as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). The ERIG Program provides grants for various types of clean air projects to improve air quality in the state's nonattainment areas and other affected counties. Eligible projects include those that involve replacement, retrofit, repower, or lease or purchase of new heavy-duty vehicles; alternative fuel dispensing infrastructure; idle reduction and electrification infrastructure; and alternative fuel use. The Rebate Grants Program provides grants to upgrade or replace diesel heavy-duty vehicles and non-road equipment. Qualifying projects must reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides or other pollutants by at least 25% as compared to baseline levels and must meet operational and fuel usage requirements. For more information, including eligibility and the application form, see the TCEQ TERP website. (Reference Texas Statutes Health and Safety Code 386 and Texas Administrative Code 114.620-114.629)

Clean Fleet Grants

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the Texas Clean Fleet Program (TCFP) as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). The TCFP provides grants to fleets to replace existing fleet vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). An entity that operates a fleet of at least 75 vehicles and commits to placing 20 or more qualifying vehicles in service for use in the Clean Transportation Zone may be eligible. Qualifying AFV or HEV replacements must reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides or other pollutants by at least 25% as compared to baseline levels and must replace vehicles that meet operational and fuel usage requirements. Neighborhood electric vehicles do not qualify. For more information, including current application periods, see the TCEQ TERP website. (Reference Texas Statutes, Health and Safety Code 386 and 392, and Texas Administrative Code 114.650-114.658)

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Grant

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the Texas NGV Grant Program as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). The NGV Grant Program provides grants to replace existing medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with new, converted, or repowered natural gas or propane vehicles that operate in one or more of the eligible counties for at least 75% of the activity life. Qualifying vehicles must be on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,500 pounds, operate on at least 60% natural gas or propane, and be certified to current federal emissions standards. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, including eligibility and the application form, see the TCEQ TERP website.

(Reference Texas Statutes, Health and Safety Code 394)

Clean School Bus Grants

Any public school district or charter school may receive a grant through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to pay for the incremental costs to replace school buses or install diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, emission-reducing add-on equipment, and other emissions reduction technologies in qualified school buses. For more information, see the TCEQ Texas Emissions Reduction Plan website.

(Reference Texas Administrative Code 114.640-114.648 and Texas Statutes, Health and Safety Code 390)

Governmental Fleet Grants

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF) as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) for the purchase or lease of new vehicles powered by natural gas, propane, hydrogen, or electricity. Grants are available in the following amounts:

Up to 10% of awarded funds may be granted for the purchase, lease, or installation of refueling infrastructure or equipment, or refueling services in conjunction with an eligible vehicle purchase or lease. Special districts and government entities that operate a fleet greater than 15 vehicles are eligible. For more information, see the TCEQ GAFF website. (Reference Texas Statutes, Water Code 5.124 and 5.229, and Texas Statutes 386.153)

Seaport and Rail Yard Emissions Reduction Grants

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the Seaport and Rail Yard Areas Emissions Reduction Program (Program) as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). The Program provides grants to eligible entities to replace, repower, or purchase drayage and cargo handling equipment, Eligible projects include heavy-duty on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 pounds, off-road yard trucks, and other cargo handling equipment. Eligible engines or motors must be powered by electricity or meet federal emissions standards and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by at least 25% compared to the engine being replaced. For more information, including current application periods, see the TCEQ TERP website.

(Reference Texas Statutes, Health and Safety Code 386 Subchapter D-1)

Texas' National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NEVI Formula Program requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Plan) to the DOT and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Office by August 1, 2022, describing how the state intends to distribute NEVI funds. Plans must be established according to NEVI guidance.

For more information about Texas’ NEVI planning process, see the TxDOT Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan website. For more information about Texas’ NEVI plan, see the Joint Office’s State Plans for EV Charging website.