A grant programme through which Texan firms can have their vehicles fitted with platinum autocatalysts for a reduced cost has been marked by lack of interest, it has been revealed.

Under the project, The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will pay a proportion of the cost of fitting catalytic converters in company-owned vehicles with gas compressor engines, in a bid to cut emissions of nitrous oxide in the state.

However, presently just five companies have applied for the grants, despite the fact that once the scheme terminates they could be obliged to pay for the catalysts out of their own pocket.

Buzz Fullen, Mayor of Henderson, said that firms seem to regard the converters and the attendant grant programme as an issue of little importance.

He told newsjournal.com: "We really do need to get the word out, because I don't think these people I talked to knew what was going on. In 18 months, they're going to have to jump onto it."

Nearly $2 million worth of grant money remains, which can be applied for up until March.

Tests conducted using the platinum catalytic converters showed that levels of nitrous oxide emissions were cut by up to 96 per cent, newsjournal.com reports.

Source:

Few takers so far for anti-emissions grant
http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/10/31/10312007_NETAC.html

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