Mass Emissions Cap and Trade Program
The MECT Program is a market-based cap-and-trade program that implements an annual nitrogen oxides emission cap for applicable facilities in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone nonattainment area.
Overview
Program participants are required to use allowances or discrete emission credits to cover NOx emissions on an annual basis. The allowances available for use each year are capped at a level necessary to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. Participation from affected facilities is mandatory.
Featured Items
- State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS)
Submit MECT annual reports and trades online. -
Credit and Allowance Registry
Search for sites, companies, projects, portfolios, certificates, etc. -
Credit and Allowance Exchange
Current listing of requests to buy and sell credits and allowances.
Forms
State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) must be used to submit the following MECT forms online:
- MECT annual compliance reports (submit by March 31 after the control period)
- Current or vintage trades (submit by January 30 after the control period)
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Application for Permanent Transfer of Allowance Ownership (Form ECT-4)
Submit 30 days prior to transfer. -
Application to Use Allowances for Offset Requirements (Form ECT-4O)
Submit 30 days before the affected facility begins operation. -
Application for Transfer of Individual Future Year Allowances (Form ECT-5)
Submit to execute transfer.
Guidance
- Supporting Documentation for MECT Annual Compliance Reports
- Supporting Documentation for CEMS and PEMS
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Policy memos regarding the transfer of allowances:
Circumvention Trading Memo, January 31, 2003
Circumvention Trading Memo, September 19, 2003
Audits and Summary Reports
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Summary Reports
Annual summary of allowance allocations, emissions, compliance penalties, and transfers.