AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine, a program that has helped thousands of motorists purchase newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles, is accepting applications for replacement assistance vouchers worth as much as $600 in the North Texas area. Residents with vehicles that are more than 10 years old or have failed the emissions portion of the state inspection in the past 30 days may apply if they meet income criteria and certain vehicle requirements. Details are available at nctcog.org/airchecktexas.

During the three months the replacement component of the program was open in 2012, more than 900 vouchers were used. Since the program began in 2002, 28,504 vehicles have been replaced, while 27,134 have been repaired.

AirCheckTexas has helped the area move closer to compliance with federal ozone standards. Assistance is open to vehicle owners in nine Dallas-Fort Worth area counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant). Assistance through this application-based program is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.