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Although the majority of current TERC funding comes from the Texas Emissions Reduction Program, other sources of funding have been used as well. Initially the TERC program was federally funded (through the CIAP funds), however TERC has also acquired additional funding from the state through the TCEQ and has found donors in the Houston Endowment Foundation and the Meadows Foundation.
Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP)
The purpose of the CIAP is to assist states and local communities in mitigating the impacts of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas development and production. After discussions with regional and State officials to determine the Houston Greater Partnership's eligibility for funding, Harris County and the State of Texas agreed to include a proposal from the Partnership to utilize CIAP funds for air quality research. Along with proposals from other coastal counties, the General Land Office submitted a unified proposal from the State of Texas that was approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Congress appropriated $150 million under the CIAP to the seven offshore oil and gas producing states of Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Under the CIAP, Texas was authorized to receive $26 million. Of this total, Harris County received $1.86 million and the Texas General Land Office received $17.16 million. Harris County Judge Robert Eckels assumed a leadership role in the allocation of County CIAP funds for air quality research for ozone science and air quality research in the Houston-Galveston region. Subsequently, Land Commissioner David Dewhurst also agreed to provide $2.25 million in CIAP funds for this purpose. Thus, a total of $4.11 million was made available to address air quality research issues in the Houston-Galveston region.
In February 2002, Harris County approved a contract with the Geotechnology Research Institute (GTRI), a state entity designation at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) to manage the CIAP funds and associated research. HARC worked with the newly formed Texas Environmental Research Consortium (TERC) to draft a Strategic Research Plan laying out its priorities for 2002-2004.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) DFW Projects
In an agreement between TCEQ and TERC, TERC funded several projects that were needed to support the State Implementation Plan, and in exchange TCEQ later provided $299,500 to complete other projects.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) H1/MM5 Project
TCEQ provided an additional $67,000 to the TERC funded H1 project to increase the scope to meet some of the TCEQ's needs.
House Bill 1365 Funds
In 2003, the Texas Legislature approved House Bill 1365 to authorize funding for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), a cornerstone of the state's clean air effort. TERP provides financial incentives to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from high-emitting sources and accelerates scientific inquiry into the causes of air pollution. H.B. 1365 specifies a formula that earmarks substantial funds for new research and technology. Of those funds, at least 20 percent is set aside to support air quality research by a non-profit organization based in Houston, for the benefit of the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth ozone non-attainment areas. For the 2004-2005 biennium TERC received $5,033,000. An additional $453,000 is expected to be added to that amount due to increased revenues received by the state.
Houston Endowment Inc. Funds
The Houston Endowment is a private philanthropic foundation that improves life for the people of the greater Houston area through its contributions to charitable organizations and educational institutions. In 2005 the Houston Endowment awarded TERC $84,000.
Meadows Foundations Funds
The Meadows Foundation exists to assist people and institutions of Texas improve the quality and circumstances of life for themselves and future generations. In 2005 the Meadows Foundation awarded TERC $64,000.
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 02/07/2006 2:30 PM |
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© 2005 - 2008 Texas Environmental Research Consortium
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