As the Drive a Clean Machine clean air program finishes its
third month of full-scale operation, officials announced
approximately $29 million in state funds remains available for
vouchers and all areas participating in the program continue to
accept applications.
"The Drive a Clean Machine program has proven extremely popular
and successful," said Bobby Wierzowiecki, who administers the
program for the TCEQ. "Program administrators have handled tens of
thousands of telephone calls since the official program kick-off in
January. Thousands of vouchers have been issued, resulting in
removing thousands of the dirtiest, most-polluting cars from Texas
roads. There is still money available for people to take advantage
of the program."
Noting that initially some people had trouble getting through to
program administrators because of jammed phone lines, Wierzowiecki
said more people have been hired and more phone lines added to aid
in processing applications. "The program is moving fast, and we're
evaluating ways to minimize any disruption in the application
process."
The Drive a Clean Machine program provides qualifying owners of
older, high-polluting vehicles with vouchers worth up to $3,500
toward the purchase of qualifying new, cleaner-running vehicles.
Clean air is a major source of concern for all Texans, and mobile
emissions produced by old cars are the primary source of NOx (the
pollutant we must reduce to meet federal ozone standards) in our
state's non-attainment areas.
To qualify for the program, an applicant's vehicle must be 10
years old or older, or have failed a state emissions tests.
To qualify, vehicles must be registered in one of the 16
counties in nonattainment or near-nonattainment for federal ozone
standards.
The Drive a Clean Machine program will provide the following
incentives to qualifying families willing to purchase a new
vehicle:
- $3,000 for a car, current model year or up to three model years
old.
- $3,000 for a truck, current model year or up to two model years
old.
- $3,500 for a hybrid vehicle, current or previous model
year.
To qualify, a household must make less than 300% of the federal
poverty level. For example, a family of four with an annual net
income up to $63,600 would meet the income guidelines.
Vehicles that are turned in under the program will have their
engines and emissions systems destroyed, so the cars cannot be sold
or returned to the road to pollute Texas air.
The program will be administered by the North Central Texas
Council of Governments in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; the
Houston-Galveston Area Council in the Houston area; and Williamson
and Travis counties in the Austin area. Those interested in using
the program will apply for vouchers through these organizations,
and qualified applicants will be awarded vouchers from these
organizations.
Vehicles must be on a list of qualifying vehicles and cost less
than $25,000. They must weigh less than 10,000 lbs, be at least 10
years old and/or have failed an emissions test. The vehicles must
be purchased at participating car dealers. For a list of dealers,
and for other qualifications and for more information go to
www.driveacleanmachine.org or call 800-913-3321, or contact the
administrating organization for your county.
The 16 counties in nonattainment or near-nonattainment for
federal ozone standards are Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson,
Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties in the Dallas-Fort
Worth Area; Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery
counties in the Houston area; and Travis and Williamson counties in
the Austin area.
