By educating opinion leaders and promoting collaboration between the private and public sectors, we are helping Texas achieve measurably cleaner air, ensure the economic vitality of our businesses and our state, and protect the health of our workers and our families. 

Since our roots are in North Texas, our early work has been focused on improving air quality in the 9-county DFW ozone non-attainment area. The nine-county DFW area is out of compliance with federal Clean Air Act requirements for ozone levels, and the state is under an order to come up with a plan to bring it back into compliance by June 15, 2010. The plan for achieving compliance - the region's revision of the State Implementation Plan, or the "DFW SIP" - was proposed in December 2006 and adopted by the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) in May 2007. The EPA has until December 2008 to approve or reject the DFW SIP.

To achieve compliance, the DFW area must realize substantial reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). NOx is a generic term for a group of highly reactive gases that are a primary ingredient of the haze that lingers over the area much of the year. The NOx combines with other pollutants on hot, sunny, low-wind days to produce ground-level ozone. 

In the DFW area, 73% of NOx emissions come from what regulators call "mobile sources": 46% from "onroad mobile sources" (cars and trucks) and 27% from "nonroad mobile sources" (primarily construction equipment). 
The remaining NOx emissions come from industrial facilities and other sources. 

Promoting public-private collaboration on the DFW SIP:
Taking dirty diesel engines out of service
The preponderance of NOx emissions from mobile sources points to our greatest opportunity: reduction of emissions through the replacement of polluting engines. We are working to ensure successful implementation of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan – TERP – a program of financial incentives to take the oldest, dirtiest diesel trucks and equipment out of service and replace them with cleaner models.

The incentive offered by TERP is hefty: up to 80% of the replacement cost of qualifying vehicles and equipment. The state allocated $140 million to be spent on two TERP programs in early 2008. $30 million was allocated to the Rebate Grants program and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to individuals and small businesses. $110 million was allocated to the Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants, a competitive process whereby the state will pay for vehicles and equipment whose replacement will result in the greatest amount of NOx reductions. 

This collaboration on public outreach was very successful. Applications came in so quickly to the Rebate Grants program that the entire $30 million allocated to it was awarded weeks before the application closing date. The Incentive Grants applications included 693 from the DFW area seeking a total of $95.5 million. The amount of NOx reduction resulting from the program is expected to be substantial.

Partnering with business to achieve emission reductions
TBCA approaches its air advocacy in a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation. We work behind the scenes to encourage businesses – including some of North Texas' largest industries – to take voluntary actions to reduce their emissions of NOx and other pollutants by installing state-of-the-art pollution control technology. 

Our efforts encouraged Luminant (the power generation subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings, which acquired TXU in 2007) to announce in February 2008 a $1 billion voluntary emissions reduction program at all of its coal-fueled plants. In particular, Luminant's commitment to install selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems at its Martin Lake Plant will have a significant beneficial effect on DFW air quality.  While applauding Luminant's announcement, our Executive Director Margaret Keliher emphasized the need to move quickly. "We look forward to seeing a binding commitment soon, followed by completion of the selective non-catalytic reduction work by the end of 2009. By making such a substantial investment under an aggressive timetable, Luminant is showing that voluntary measures can help North Texas meet federal clean air requirements and is setting an example for other businesses to follow.

Educating opinion leaders and promoting solutions
We take every opportunity to communicate our core message that clean air is good for Texas business and good for Texas families:

• In December 2007 we co-sponsored the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency conference in San Antonio which featured a unique opportunity for participants to debate and shape policy proposals to advance clean, efficient energy technologies in Texas.
• In April 2008 we co-sponsored the Texas Solar Forum, the largest-ever gathering in Texas of solar industry representatives and advocates, to educate business and political leaders about the economic benefits that an aggressive investment in solar technology would bring to Texas.
• In December 2008 we again co-sponsored the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency conference in Plano.
• In January 2009 we released a major study by Rice University and Houston Advanced Research Center, "Policy Options for Clean Air and Sustainable Energy in Texas".
• In March 2009 we co-sponsored with Memnosyne Foundation a debate and community discussion, "Pickens Plan vs. Gore Challente".