Department: Universal Services
Department Head/Elected Official: MG Richard J Noriega (Ret), Executive Director & CIO, Universal Services
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Universal Services for approval to submit an application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for grant funds in the amount of $176,000, with a required match of $435,384, for the Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF).
end
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) - Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF) provides grants to purchase or lease new vehicles that operate primarily on compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, liquified petroleum gas (propane), hydrogen fuel cells, or electricity. This request is to apply for grant funds toward the purchase of new motor vehicles. As of May 5, 2023, Universal Services has purchased or submitted orders for 46 electric vehicles across six Harris County departments.
This project, if awarded, will contribute grant funds toward the individual purchase of 8 new Class 1 electric vehicles and 1 new Class 6 electric vehicle. GAFF projects are awarded competitively and prioritize grant projects that replace and destroy internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within 90 days of receiving verification from TCEQ that the proof of purchase documentation for the grant-funded vehicles has been approved. Grant amounts per vehicle are provided below by vehicle class:
8 new Class 1 vehicles: $17,000
1 new Class 4-6 vehicle: $40,000
Fleet electrification is one of many efforts aimed at reducing County’s greenhouse emissions. Based on the Harris County Fleet Electrification Study published on September 10, 2021, electrifying 43% of County's light-duty vehicles would reduce more than 8,000 metric tons of CO2on a yearly basis. Replacing such a significant portion of the fleet at once is operationally not a viable option, but instead it calls for a long-term strategy for fleet electrification that is to be devised as a part of the County’s Climate Action Plan adopted by Commissioners Court.
Expected Impact:
The County match would be for the cost share of purchase of 8 new Class 1 vehicles and 1 new Class 6 vehicle, or the difference between the grant amount and the vehicle cost, where the grant is calculated at 40% of costs up to $17,000 per vehicle for Class 1 and $40,000 per vehicle for Class 6. Any additional costs would be a discretionary match. Payments from the grant will be made on a reimbursement basis for eligible expenses incurred and paid in full by the grantee.
Alternative Options:
Decline the application and to not seek reimbursement for costs associated with the purchase of the new electric vehicles.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
x Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
1/10/23 |
10 |
Approval of the adoption of Harris County’s Climate Action Plan |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
TCEQ Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF) |
|
|
FY 23 |
FY 24 |
Next 3 FYs |
|
Incremental Expenditures (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
|
Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Non-Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$611,384 |
$ |
|
Total Incremental Expenditures |
$ |
$611,384 |
$ |
|
Funding Sources (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
|
Existing Budget |
|
Other cost share/match |
$ |
$485,384 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$485,384 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Requested |
|
Grant |
$ |
$176,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Requested |
$ |
$176,000 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$611,384 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Requested |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 5/16/23
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
Jim Smith, Universal Services - Fleet Director
Lisa Lin, County Administration - Sustainability Office
John Speirs, Universal Services - Office of Broadband
Attachments (if applicable):
TCEQ Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF)