H-GAC AIR QUALITY PROGRAMS
The H-GAC Transportation Department group assists the region's efforts
to attain the federal Clean Air Act air quality standards. The six initiatives which comprise H-GAC's air quality
efforts are described below.
Clean Cities
The mission of the Greater Houston Clean Cities Coalition is to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of petroleum consumption. Clean Cities carries out this mission through a network of more than 80 volunteer coalitions, which develop public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction.
Clean Vehicles
The Clean Vehicle Program provides funding through a competitive
process to public and private entities in order to assist
efforts to maximize use of clean vehicles in regional fleets.
This program is fuel neutral. The primary goal of the program
is to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Other goals include: reducing the
cost to fleets for acquisition of clean vehicle; stimulating
the development of clean fueling infrastructure; and stimulating
additional public and private sector investment in clean vehicles
and infrastructure
For more information about Clean Cities and Clean Vehicles,
please visit www.houston-cleancities.org.
Commute Solutions
Commute
Solutions is a one-stop alternative transportation resource
in the Houston-Galveston area for both commuters and businesses.
We provide advice, answers and assistance on commuting options
and employee transportation programs. Collectively, we have
helped some of the biggest and most prestigious employers
in the region get their employees to work.
For more information about Commute Solutions, please visit www.commutesolutions-hou.com.
AERCO
The Houston-Galveston Area Emission Reduction Credit Organization (AERCO) works to establish a regional credit trading market.
AERCOs were created by the Texas Legislature to improve air
quality and economic development through the trading of emission
reduction credits. The Houston-Galveston AERCO will also buy
credits as Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs), Mobile Emission
Reduction Credits (MERCs), Discreet Emission Reduction Credits
(DERCs) and Mobile Discreet Emission Reduction Credits (MDERCs).
All credits are certified with the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission's (TNRCC) Emission Banking and Trading
Program.
Clean School Bus Houston
As part of AERCO's clean air efforts, the organization also administers Clean School Bus Houston. The mission of Clean School Bus is to protect the health of children and their communities by helping school districts to retrofit or replace aging, polluting school buses with newer, cleaner transportation technologies and to promote no-idling policies.
For more information about AERCO, please visit AERCO's homepage. Information about Clean School Bus Houston can be found at www.cleanschoolbushouston.org.
The Regional
Air Quality Planning Committee (RAQPC) is appointed by
the H-GAC Board of Directors to assist and advise H-GAC, regional
and local governments, transportation organizations and other
agencies on air quality issues.
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