AERCO provides a legal framework to promote air quality improvement and economic growth in the eight county Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone non-attainment area which includes: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller Counties. The organization provides:
- The administration of the Clean School Bus Houston program
- The acceptance of Federal and State Supplemental Environmental Project Funds (SEPs) for clean air projects in the region
- mechanism for pooling emission credits and allowances to meet federal Clean Air Act offset requirements and make them available for economic development; and
- Local option for meeting required emission reductions in the state implementation plan.