Published: April 11, 2008 07:02 pm            

Rebates help with replacing old trucks

Two Johnson Co. companies receive funding from state

Two Johnson County trucking companies have been awarded rebates from the Texas Emissions Reduction Program to replace older vehicles with newer ones that emit lower levels of nitrogen oxide pollutants.

RD West Trucking of Godley, Valentine Trucking of Burleson and two other North Texas trucking companies were awarded rebates totaling $526,000 to help replace older, higher-polluting vehicles and equipment.

RD West Trucking of Godley was awarded a rebate for a new haul truck and Valentine Trucking of Burleson was awarded a rebate for a new dump truck.

Jamie Ray of Valentine Trucking said her company is glad it received a rebate for a new vehicle.

The rebate Valentine was awarded covered half the cost of a 2009 Peterbilt truck the company purchased to replace an old 1981 GMC model.

“We wouldn’t have been able to replace the truck now if it weren’t for the rebate,” Ray said. “We would have had to wait a lot longer. We’ve already seen a difference in maintenance costs, and the pollutants that it’s saving are just astronomical. For this one truck, it will save about one ton a year of nitrous oxide pollutants. The new trucks they’re building are much cleaner burning.”

Ray said one of the requirements of receiving the rebate was that the old truck had to be destroyed so it could no longer be used.

In 2008, TERP offered businesses in North Texas both rebates and grants. The $30 million in rebates were first-come, first-served and have already been awarded, said TERP Program Manager Leslie Rauscher.

$110 million in grants are available and will be awarded on a competitive basis, she said.

Valentine has also applied for a grant to replace two other older vehicles. The company expects to find out in June if it won the grant, Valentine said.

RD West could not be reached for comment.

The money comes from a state fund set up to help clean the air by removing older vehicles and nitrous oxide pollutants from the roads, Rauscher said.

Nitrous oxides are a precursor to ozone, she said.

“We’re targeting to clean up 5,000 engines and vehicles, which will enable North Texas to see a significant improvement in air quality,” Rauscher said.

The program, created six years ago, will award up to $140 million statewide in 2008. TERP is engaging in a joint effort with local governments and organizations to promote the vehicle cleanup program.

TERP has set up a free hotline for businesses to call for information and obtain help in applying for the state funds.

The process is free, but applications for grants must be turned in by 5 p.m. Friday.

“It’s imperative that they call soon,” Rauscher said. “Don’t hesitate because time is running out.”

        

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