In 2002 TERC was commissioned to significantly improve ozone science and air quality modeling. TERC's Air Quality Research Program has made significant impact on the development of the State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. In March 2006 TERC began managing the New Technology Research and Development Program designed for the development and verification of technologies that reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines.

TERC receives funding for its programs from federal, state and private sources. Both NTRD and AQR programs are based on funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) budget for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP).

Air Quality Research (AQR)

TERC awards $2 million each year to pre-qualified research teams that investigate problems related to emissions inventories, monitoring, atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, complex air quality modeling, human exposure and policy analysis. Like NTRD, the AQR program is governed by its own strategic plan and nationally recognized air quality experts approved by the TERC Board.  [more]

New Technology Research and Development (NTRD)

TERC awards over $9 million each year to organizations that develop promising technologies to reduce NOx emissions from diesel engines. The NTRD program is governed by a strategic plan and nationally recognized technology experts approved by the TERC Board.  [more]