When I first saw the notice "Deadline approaching for TCEQ alternative fuel, hybrid vehicles grants" on the Fort Worth city website, I was intrigued that a Fort Worth company might use a reasonable financial incentive from the state to reduce emissions in our city.
However, after a five-minute scan of the TCEQ "Clean Fleet Program" grant, I was very disappointed to discover it's essentially a state version of "Cash for Clunkers," one of the Obama administration's most criticized bills.For all new alternative-fuel or low-emission vehicles that the TCEQ subsidizes as part of the grant, an older diesel vehicle must be either crushed or destroyed to the point that the engine is unusable. Subsidizing the purchase of alternative-fuel vehicles at the state level to decrease emissions long-term is not such a bad thing. Destroying still-functional engines to reduce emissions in the short term is stupid and illogical.-- John Andrew Willis, Fort WorthHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
