Volume 7 | Issue 4 | October 2026 | | 30 Years of Cleaner Air and Healthier Communities | | |
Thirty years of cleaner air, healthier communities, and regional collaboration were on display September 9 as the Sac Metro Air District celebrated its 30th anniversary as a special district.
The anniversary reception brought together Air District Board members, congressional representatives and other elected officials, community partners, and stakeholders to celebrate three decades of progress and recognize the partnerships that have helped shape air quality efforts across Sacramento County since 1996.
Guests reflected on how far the region has come while looking ahead to the work still to be done. Throughout the celebration, speakers highlighted the collaboration among local, state and federal leaders, community organizations and regional partners that have helped reduce air pollution, protect public health, and advance innovative solutions to some of the Sacramento region’s most complex air quality challenges.
Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer Dr. Alberto Ayala served as emcee for the celebration. Speakers included Board Director and Citrus Heights Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff; Congresswoman Doris Matsui; Congressman Kevin Kiley; Board Director, California Air Resources Board Member and Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra; Board Director and Sacramento Councilmember Roger Dickinson, who joined the celebration through a pre-recorded message; Board Director and Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez; and Board Chair and Folsom Councilmember Sarah Aquino.
The celebration also included a special recognition of a partnership designed to leave a lasting legacy in the community. Board Chair Aquino presented the Sacramento Tree Foundation with a plaque recognizing its efforts to plant 30 trees in the South Sacramento-Florin neighborhood in honor of the Air District. The trees will serve as a living reminder of the milestone and the Air District’s continued commitment to healthier, more sustainable communities.
While the anniversary offered an opportunity to celebrate three decades of accomplishments, it also marked the beginning of the Air District’s next chapter. As technologies evolve and new environmental challenges emerge, the Air District will continue working alongside residents, businesses, local governments, and regional partners to improve air quality and protect public health throughout the Sacramento region.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating 30 years of progress and to the many partners, community members, and employees whose work has helped make cleaner air possible. Here’s to the next 30 years!
| | Congresswoman Doris Matsui presents the Air District with a certificate of congressional recognition. | | APCO Alberto Ayala receives a certificate of recognition for the Air District from Senator Roger Niello's office. | | APCO Alberto Ayala receives a certificate of recognition for the Air District from Assemblymember Josh Hoover's office. | | Congressman Kevin Kiley presents the Air District with a certificate of congressional recognition. | | Board Chair Sarah Aquino presents the Sac Tree Foundation with a plaque recognizing its commitment to plant 30 trees in South Sacramento-Florin. | | Air District leadership and staff. | | Air District to Celebrate California Clean Air Day with Home Electrification Fair | | |
In celebration of the 8th Annual California Clean Air Day, the Air District is partnering with local organizations to bring clean technology directly to the community through a home electrification fair on October 7.
The free event will allow residents to explore electric vehicles, home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, and other technologies that can help reduce emissions while creating healthier, more energy-efficient homes. Attendees can see technologies in action, talk with experts, and learn about electric alternatives that may work for their homes and everyday lives.
The Clean Air Day Fair will be held on October 7 from 3–5 p.m. at Esther’s Park in Oak Park. This event is a partnership between the Oak Park Black Film Festival, the Air District, California Climate Investments, Color the Block, the Electric Transportation Community Development Corp. (ET Community), Sac Clean Air, Sacramento Tree Foundation, SACOG, SMUD, St. HOPE, and Valley Vision.
The event is part of California Clean Air Day, an annual statewide effort originated by the Coalition for Clean Air that encourages individuals, businesses, and communities to take actions that support cleaner air. By connecting residents with practical information, resources, and cleaner technologies, the Air District and its partners are helping make clean-air choices more accessible while supporting healthier communities and regional climate goals.
Clean Air Day is also a chance for everyone to play a part. Residents can take the Clean Air Pledge and choose an action—big or small—to help reduce air pollution and contribute to a healthier Sacramento region.
| | Advancing Climate Action Through a New Carbon Offset Bank – And Keeping the Benefits Local | | |
As part of its commitment to create innovative and cost-effective climate solutions that directly benefit the local community, the Air District is launching a new pilot project to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beyond what is required by other programs and advance statewide climate goals while investing in the Sacramento region.
The new pilot will create an additional option for reducing emissions when other mitigation strategies may not be feasible. A carbon offset bank allows surplus credits generated by projects that reduce or capture GHG emissions to be stored for future use. Those credits can then be purchased and used to meet mitigation commitments.
The Air District’s carbon offset bank pilot is modeled on the state’s Healthy Soils Program, which incentivizes farmers and ranchers to switch to healthier farming practices that improve soil productivity and reduce GHG emissions. Through the pilot, the Air District will fund local carbon sequestration projects that pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil in perpetuity. The resulting emission reductions will be converted into carbon offset credits and stored in the carbon bank, with credits expected to be available for purchase in 2027.
The carbon offset pilot builds on the Carbon Sequestration Program/Carbon Farming measure from the 2025 Comprehensive Capital Region Climate Priorities Plan. The plan was developed under EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program.
The carbon offset initiative will encourage new regional carbon-reducing projects, provide the development community with another option for meeting mitigation requirements, and help advance regional carbon sequestration goals.
| | Clean Air Solutions Take Center Stage at State Capitol | | |
California’s air districts came together at the State Capitol on August 3 to highlight innovative approaches to cleaner air during the Clean Air, Clean Solutions Showcase, with the Sac Metro Air District sharing programs and technologies advancing air quality throughout the Sacramento region.
Organized by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the statewide event brought together a dozen air districts, legislators, agency partners and stakeholders to see firsthand how California’s local air quality agencies are using innovative programs and technologies to reduce emissions and protect public health.
The Sac Metro Air District highlighted work underway throughout the Sacramento region, including air monitoring, permitting and compliance, the MaRTy heat mapping tool, Community Air Protection, zero-emission technologies, and incentive programs designed to help businesses and residents transition to cleaner alternatives.
Throughout the Capitol grounds, visitors could explore electric vehicles, heavy-duty zero-emission equipment, hydrogen technologies, electric school buses, air quality monitoring tools and other emerging clean-air solutions. The Sac Metro Air District showcased its portable air monitoring laboratory, an electric school bus funded by the Air District, and electric vehicles used through its Our Community CarShare program.
The event also provided an opportunity for Sac Metro Air District leaders to meet with legislators and their offices to discuss Sacramento-area air quality priorities, share successful programs and demonstrate how state and local investments are translating into cleaner technologies and healthier communities.
Bringing air districts together at the Capitol also underscored the role of continued collaboration and investment in California’s clean-air progress. From community-based programs to emerging technologies, local air districts are putting funding and partnerships to work to address regional air quality challenges and protect public health.
The event concluded with a special recognition of the participating air districts by Assemblymember Solache during a regular session of the State Assembly.
| | Sacramento Region Residents Are Breathing Cleaner Air | | |
As we wrap up the summer Spare The Air season, which focuses on ozone, and head into the winter Check Before You Burn season, which focuses on fine particle pollution (PM2.5), it’s a great time to reflect on the tremendous improvements in air quality we have achieved in the Sacramento region over the past several decades.
Thanks to reductions in emissions from industry, motor vehicles, homes, and other sources, the region has made substantial progress. Excluding the uncontrollable impacts of wildfires, ozone concentrations have decreased by 30%, daily PM2.5 concentrations by more than 60%, and annual PM2.5 concentrations by nearly 40%. These reductions mean cleaner air for the people who live and work in the Sacramento region.
The region has also reached several important clean-air milestones. We met the 1979, 1997, and 2008 ozone standards, and are on track to meet the 2015 ozone standard by the 2032 deadline. We also met the 2006 daily PM2.5 standard. Sacramento County has met the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard and is expected to meet the 2024 annual PM2.5 standard when federal designations are finalized.
These accomplishments reflect a regional effort, but our work is not done. With a 2032 deadline for meeting the latest ozone standard and the potential for stronger health-based standards in the future, our mission continues. The Air District will continue working with our partners to reduce air pollution and address challenges such as extreme weather and wildfire smoke to protect the health of everyone who calls the Sacramento region home.
| | Clean Air and Climate Resilience Solutions | | Turning Clean Air Violations into Community Clean Air Investments: Firehouse Community Center Improvements | | |
The Mutual Assistance Network (MAN) received $50,400 from the Air District’s Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) program to support a series of clean air and community revitalization improvements at the Firehouse Community Center in Del Paso Heights. The SEP program directs a portion of penalties collected from air quality violations toward community‑based projects, helping advance local strategies that reduce pollution and support environmental equity in underserved neighborhoods.
Building Community Through Clean Air Investments
MAN’s mission is to expand social and economic opportunities so families can thrive. The Firehouse Community Center is an anchor institution and recognizable landmark in Del Paso Heights, serving as MAN’s Del Paso Heights hub for resident‑led economic growth and community development. The SEP funds enabled key infrastructure upgrades identified in MAN’s Master Plan to improve the outdoor space for year-round community use.
With SEP funding, MAN installed a water‑efficient drip irrigation system, constructed a shade structure to support outdoor programming during hotter months, and refreshed the landscape with drought‑tolerant and native California plants. These improvements not only enhance the usability of the space but also help reduce urban heat island effects by removing asphalt and increasing green, climate‑resilient vegetation.
This project demonstrates how reinvesting air quality violation penalties directly back into neighborhoods can strengthen community spaces, improve environmental conditions, and contribute to long-term resilience in Del Paso Heights.
| | Air District Expertise in the Spotlight | | |
Air District leadership and staff are regularly invited to attend or speak at panels, forums, and conferences on air quality, climate policy, clean transportation, and emerging technologies. These engagements highlight the Air District’s regional leadership and technical expertise and contextualize local efforts against national and international activities.
Below is a roundup of some recent and upcoming speaking engagements and events featuring Air District employees.
Events
-
12th International Aerosol Conference (IAC 2026), Xi’an, China (August 30 – September 5): Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala and Office of Community Air Protection and Monitoring Division Director Janice Lam Snyder co-authored a publication with AVL List GmbH, from Graz, Austria, that was presented by AVL co-investigators at IAC 2026. The work presented was “Harmonized Urban Ultrafine Particle Monitoring Across Europe and California: A Transatlantic Comparison.”
-
SMUD Board Meeting, Sacramento (September 8, 2026): Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala was invited to speak to the SMUD Board about air quality and climate progress in the Sacramento region in the context of SMUD’s Zero Carbon Plan. His remarks were intended to help the SMUD Board understand the gas turbine transition in the broader context of California’s clean air and clean energy future.
-
Fall 2026 North American Hydrogen Engine Conference, Detroit (September 15-16): The Sac Metro Air District was pleased to help sponsor the Fall 2026 North American Hydrogen Engine Conference in Detroit, MI. Associate Air Quality Engineer Kristian Damkier, PE, represented the Air District to promote the use of hydrogen in proven technologies. The conference brought together researchers, industry, and government to explore using hydrogen to support more strategic deployments in transportation and data centers. Michigan is developing its potential for geologic hydrogen as a lower-cost option to help fleets access alternative fuels and save money. The Air District’s participation in this important discussion will help local projects, including the Sierra Northern Railroad’s four hydrogen-powered locomotives and the upcoming deployment of a portable hydrogen power generator in the region.
-
The 13th International Conference on Air Benefit and Cost and Attainment Assessment & Symposium on Atmospheric Haze Chemistry (ABaCAS 2026), Guangzhou, China (September 12-16): Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala was invited by the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences to attend this year’s conference and speak during two sessions. His remarks discussed “California’s Compliance and Enforcement – Lessons from the Volkswagen Dieselgate Scandal, Ten Years On” and offered an “Update on California’s Clean Energy and Clean Mobility Transitions.” The Energy Foundation – China provided travel funding.
-
Invest in Sacramento: China Trade Mission, China (November 9-18, 2026): Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala will join several other regional leaders to contribute to The Greater Sacramento China Trade Mission organized by the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC). The trade mission will focus on building relationships and advancing investment opportunities across zero-emission vehicles, advanced batteries, and energy storage. The mission will connect regional leaders with leading companies and industry partners while positioning Greater Sacramento as a strategic U.S. location for innovation, manufacturing, and commercialization.
| | Let's Breathe Better Together - It's Sweater Weather! | | |
As Sacramento trades its scorching hot afternoons for cooler mornings and cozy evening sweaters, the Air District is changing gears, too. While the Spare The Air season comes to a close on October 31, a new clean air season is just around the corner. Beginning November 1, the focus shifts from reducing summertime smog to limiting winter wood smoke through the Check Before You Burn program.
Spare The Air Season Ends October 31
From May through October, Spare The Air alerts are issued whenever ground-level ozone, also known as smog, is forecast to reach an Air Quality Index of 126 or higher. On those days, residents are encouraged to drive less, reduce vehicle emissions, and take simple steps to help improve air quality and protect their health.
Although the season is winding down, additional Spare The Air alerts are still possible through October 31.
Check Before You Burn Begins November 1
Beginning November 1, the focus shifts to fine particle pollution (PM2.5) with the start of the Check Before You Burn season, which runs through February 28, 2027.
Check Before You Burn helps reduce harmful wintertime air pollution by limiting the use of fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, fire pits, and other wood-burning devices on days when particle pollution is forecast to be high. The law applies to residents and businesses throughout Sacramento County, including the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento.
Before lighting your first cozy fire of the season, check the daily burn status at www.AirQuality.org/CBYB. If the status is "Legal to Burn," you may enjoy your fire. If a burn restriction is in effect, skip the fire and grab a sweater and a hot drink to stay warm!
Whether it's driving a little less during the summer or checking before you burn in the winter, small actions throughout the year help keep Sacramento's air cleaner, healthier, and more enjoyable for everyone.
Sign up for Air Alert All Year Long
No matter what season, get the daily air quality forecast delivered to your inbox by subscribing to Air Alert at www.SpareTheAir.com/signup.
| | | | |
