Region Awarded $13M for Clean Vehicle Technologies

Department of Energy grant focuses on fuel efficiency, alternative-fuel stations

Aug. 31, 2009 (Arlington, Texas) – The North Central Texas Council of Governments has received $13.2 million from the Department of Energy to help fund refueling stations and alternative-fuel vehicles in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Both local governments and private companies will benefit from the grant, awarded Aug. 26 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grant money will help the region fund 382 fuel-efficient vehicles and 11 refueling stations, two of which include more than one alternative fuel. The region was awarded all the funding it requested from the Department of Energy, which distributed almost $300 million nationally to facilitate reduction in petroleum use, improved air quality and job creation. Once implemented, the North Texas projects could save nearly 1.3 million gallons of gas per year, according to the Department of Energy. Nationally, the program will partially fund 9,000 vehicles and 542 stations. The Railroad Commission of Texas ($12.6 million) and Texas State Technical College ($12.3 million) were the other Texas entities to secure grants.

The following local governments and companies will benefit from the grant funding awarded to North Texas: cities of Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Garland, Lake Dallas, McKinney, Richardson and Southlake; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; Fort Worth Independent School District; Mansfield Independent School District; Tarrant County; Canteen Vending; Coca-Cola Enterprises; Frito-Lay North America; Gypsum Supply Ltd.; Highway of Hope; Irving Holdings Inc. (Yellow Cab); New Bern Transport Corp.; Splash Transport Inc.; Sysco Corp.; and TTX Inc.

The DOE grants, distributed to 25 entities throughout the nation, represent another phase of the federal government’s effort to invest in infrastructure and create jobs during the current recession. Earlier this year, more than $600 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was allocated to transportation projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Environmental Protection Agency awarded NCTCOG $3.7 million as part of the recovery act.

About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:

NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North

Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 233 member governments including 16 counties, 165 cities, 23 school districts and 29 special districts.