Dallas continually strives to set the standard for best practices in improving air quality for our citizens. Through innovation and leadership, the City has been an early adopter of technology and procedures that have had a measurable impact on municipal emissions of both air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
The City remains committed to reducing air emissions and helping to improve air quality in the region, and supports these efforts through the following programs:
- Maintaining a robust Air Pollution Control Program
- Upgrading the City fleet to electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles
- Reducing idling through an Anti-Idling Ordinance and sign program
- Construction of resource efficient, LEED-certified City buildings
- Improving the energy efficiency of existing City buildings
- Implementing a City-wide ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
- Maintaining a 10-day mowing cycle at City parks
- Increasing bicycle trails and lanes through the Dallas Bicycle Program to improve non-vehicle transit accessibility
- Encouraging City employees to find alternative transit
- Encouraging City departments to offer employees flexible schedules or condensed work weeks
- Using Try Parking It to encourage carpooling and track emissions saved by City employees who use alternative commute options
- Planting trees to improve air quality
North Texas Climate Change Symposium
Since 2018, the City of Dallas and the Dallas Bar Association Environmental Law Section has hosted the North Texas Climate Change Symposium (NTCCS). Each year, the NTCCS has grown in attendance and prestige. The 2019 symposium featured Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, an international authority on climate change and introduced the city’s Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP). The presentations from the 2019 symposium are available here:
- City of Dallas Greenhouse Gas Update by Kevin Overton with Dallas Environmental Quality and Sustainability
- CECAP presented by AECOM, consultants to the City
- Is Climate Change Making Us Sick? Disparities in Health Outcomes by Dr. Anthony Perri and Dorothy Perri, BSN, MS, RN
- The Economics of Climate Change by Daniel Kreeger, Executive Director of the Association of Climate Change Officers
- Webinar recording of the NTCCS. Not all of the recording has sound or images. Talking Climate Change in Texas by Dr. Hayhoe starts at 1:23:43. Building Resilience in a Changing World by Dr. Hayhoe starts at 2:05:32.
Regional and State Initiatives
To combat air pollution, the City of Dallas has partnered with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to develop programs that are designed to educate and help residents improve air quality. Through these programs and future endeavors, the City will continue to lead by example in this area.
- Air North Texas – Informs residents of air quality issues, allows them to sign up for ozone alerts, and gives helpful tips on how to reduce the air quality impact of daily activities.
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- Try Parking It – Offers a way for residents of North Central Texas to track their commutes and energy-saving measures, such as carpooling and bringing lunch.
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- The Anti-Idling Ordinance – Motor vehicles weighing over 14,000 pounds are prohibited from idling for more than five minutes within the City of Dallas, and several other areas throughout North Texas.
- Regional Smoking Vehicle Program – Encourages anyone in the North Central Texas area who sees a smoking vehicle to dial #SMOKE (#76653) from a cell phone and report the license plate, location, date and time of the viewing to the NCTCOG or visit the website to report it.
Incentive Programs, Grants, and Tax Credits
Air Check Texas: grant program to assist vehicle owners with emissions related repairs or the purchase of a newer vehicle to replace their own old, gas guzzling, air polluting vehicle.
Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Grant Program: provides financial assistance to businesses and individual truck drivers to replace or upgrade their diesel powered vehicles and equipment.
Electric Vehicle tax credit: get up to $7,500 back when you purchase a plug-in electric vehicle.
North Central Texas Council of Governments: NCTCOG has transportation funding programs that address air quality ranging from compressed natural gas vehicle purchases to truck electrification. Funding programs are available from a number of federal, State, local, and non-profit entities. This site provides links to various current and recurring grant opportunities and incentives for clean technology and infrastructures. You can register to receive notices when funding opportunities are available.
