I added a couple of links over to the side. One is for the H-GAC's regional TERP program and the other is for the HDVEGP round that the NCTCOG has been offering.
At last check the HDVEGP round in North Texas is down to about $2 million dollars remaining.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
TERP Consultant Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
From an email from the TCEQ:
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today announced the recent conviction of a Denton County man, as a result of a forgery investigation conducted by the TCEQ Environmental Crimes Unit.
On Nov. 24, 2009, Claude Dean (C. D.) Stang, owner of Texas Grant Writers, of Aubrey, Texas, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in forging signatures on the condition and use forms on Texas Emissions Reduction Plan grant applications. Stang pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in organized criminal activity. The investigation found that Stang not only forged signatures but also had other employees forge signatures on the forms and generated fraudulent quotes on equipment that was to be replaced.
The email also said Stang charged $600 to file an application which is in no way illegal, but it caught my eye since folks paid that PER MACHINE whether the grant application was approved or not.
I really would not take this as a sign that the TCEQ is itching to prosecute people. This looks like a crackdown on somebody trying to cheat the system since both Stang and his employees forged documents and signatures.
Don't be nervous that if you transposed a couple of digits in a serial number or if you end up using a machine mostly in Tarrant County instead of Dallas County that police are going to kick your door in. (Note: they do request notice if your machines operating counties change)
In every instance I've seen when an applicant does everything he can to be up front and accurate the state works with them including adjusting when annual hours of use cannot be met because of the economic slowdown.
Still, this needs to be a message to everybody that they do monitor the system and that we should all make an honest effort to work within the rules.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today announced the recent conviction of a Denton County man, as a result of a forgery investigation conducted by the TCEQ Environmental Crimes Unit.
On Nov. 24, 2009, Claude Dean (C. D.) Stang, owner of Texas Grant Writers, of Aubrey, Texas, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in forging signatures on the condition and use forms on Texas Emissions Reduction Plan grant applications. Stang pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in organized criminal activity. The investigation found that Stang not only forged signatures but also had other employees forge signatures on the forms and generated fraudulent quotes on equipment that was to be replaced.
The email also said Stang charged $600 to file an application which is in no way illegal, but it caught my eye since folks paid that PER MACHINE whether the grant application was approved or not.
I really would not take this as a sign that the TCEQ is itching to prosecute people. This looks like a crackdown on somebody trying to cheat the system since both Stang and his employees forged documents and signatures.
Don't be nervous that if you transposed a couple of digits in a serial number or if you end up using a machine mostly in Tarrant County instead of Dallas County that police are going to kick your door in. (Note: they do request notice if your machines operating counties change)
In every instance I've seen when an applicant does everything he can to be up front and accurate the state works with them including adjusting when annual hours of use cannot be met because of the economic slowdown.
Still, this needs to be a message to everybody that they do monitor the system and that we should all make an honest effort to work within the rules.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Official Notice On Rebate Grants
As a follow-up to the previous post, I just got an email that included this:
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has received a sufficient number of applications to award the money allocated this fiscal year to grants under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Rebate Grants Program. Therefore, the rebate grant round is closed and applications will no longer be accepted for this application period.
Successful applicants will be provided a signed contract soon. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing over the next several weeks.
And then this:
New funding opportunities will be available in early 2010, including a special rebate grant round funded through a federal grant. New grant information will be posted on our Web site at www.terpgrants.org as details become available.
For the most part that isn't anything new, but I wasn't sure if the ERIG round previously mentioned would be accompanied by a rebate round. It sounds like it will and the money will be supplied by the feds. Who knows, maybe those are stimulus dollars like the ones that helped fund the round we have going with the NCTCOG right now.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has received a sufficient number of applications to award the money allocated this fiscal year to grants under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Rebate Grants Program. Therefore, the rebate grant round is closed and applications will no longer be accepted for this application period.
Successful applicants will be provided a signed contract soon. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing over the next several weeks.
And then this:
New funding opportunities will be available in early 2010, including a special rebate grant round funded through a federal grant. New grant information will be posted on our Web site at www.terpgrants.org as details become available.
For the most part that isn't anything new, but I wasn't sure if the ERIG round previously mentioned would be accompanied by a rebate round. It sounds like it will and the money will be supplied by the feds. Who knows, maybe those are stimulus dollars like the ones that helped fund the round we have going with the NCTCOG right now.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Rebate Funds Exhausted For This Round
I just got off the phone with the state. They had not updated their remaining funds graphic on their website since 11/25/09 and it said they still had $3.3 million or so left, but that figure is no longer accurate.
They should be updating it soon, but if you're planning to file on a rebate grant you've missed your chance for this round. As of now they've committed all the funds.
You next chance is to file an application on the ERIG round that is supposed to be coming up in February or March of 2010.
If you tend to use your equipment a significant amount each year then the ERIG is a better choice for you anyway. The main drawback is that you commit to that number of hours and are expected to run the machine that much over the life of the grant term.
They should be updating it soon, but if you're planning to file on a rebate grant you've missed your chance for this round. As of now they've committed all the funds.
You next chance is to file an application on the ERIG round that is supposed to be coming up in February or March of 2010.
If you tend to use your equipment a significant amount each year then the ERIG is a better choice for you anyway. The main drawback is that you commit to that number of hours and are expected to run the machine that much over the life of the grant term.
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