District Updates & Highlights |
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Air District Recommends Continued Telework and Teleconferencing to Reduce Air Pollution and Combat Climate Change
With the post-pandemic era upon us and Governor Gavin Newsom’s declared State of Emergency ended, the Sac Metro Air District (Air District) is encouraging the continuation of teleconferencing and telework policies in our region citing the air quality benefits revealed in a focused and cutting-edge study conducted by the Air District.
The study evaluated air quality data during COVID shelter-in-place restrictions when traffic and driving were markedly reduced due to telework and shows significantly less vehicle-related air pollution in the Sacramento region. Shelter-in-place restrictions resulted in 28% less particulate matter pollution (PM2.5), 13% less nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, and 10% less ground-level ozone (O3) pollution.
The study results were shared in a letter sent on February 28 to more than 300 regional leaders, public agencies, businesses, and partners. The letter also included the Air District’s recommendations for using specific Brown Act provisions for local agencies to teleconference at public meetings. State agencies have similar teleconferencing options under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. Read the letter here. |
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Event Details
April 29 from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Fern Bacon Middle School
4140 Cuny Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95823
No RSVP required
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Portable Lab Event on April 29
The Air District in collaboration with the AB 617 South Sacramento-Florin Community is implementing a Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) to collect air pollution data and address the community’s air pollution concerns. On April 29, a community event will showcase the success of the program.
The final stage of the CAMP includes the deployment of a portable air monitoring laboratory in the South Sacramento-Florin area that will collect a wide range of air quality data. The portable laboratory will be located at Fern Bacon Middle School for at least the next six months to one year. The data collected at the lab will be used to assess local air pollution levels and help determine future actions, strategies, and resources to help improve air quality in the community.
The event will include tours of the portable lab, free breakfast burritos from Super Taco, kids’ activities, and booths providing more information about air quality and topics of interest to the community.
More information about this event is available at www.AirQuality.org/CAP. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Air District Ready to Lead Sacramento Region Efforts Under EPA’s New CPRG Program
The U.S. EPA’s new Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program (CPRG), a component of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, provides $5 billion for states, local governments, air pollution control agencies, and tribes to create and implement a plan to reduce climate pollution in their regions. The CPRG is organized into two phases. Under the first phase, the Sacramento region is eligible to receive up to $1 million to develop a plan of strategies to improve air quality from polluting industries such as transportation, utilities, and agriculture. Under the second phase, a total of $4.6 billion in competitive grants nationally will be available to implement measures from the regional plans developed with the planning grant funding in phase one.
As the regional air pollution control agency responsible for reducing air and climate pollution, the Sac Metro Air District is ready to lead the climate planning process for the Sacramento region to guarantee the opportunity to compete for this new funding. The Air District is working with other regional leaders and partners to ensure that Sacramento’s climate plan includes all desired climate pollution reduction strategies. Stay tuned as these plans and efforts evolve into an integrated strategy that will improve air quality, benefit environmental justice communities, and address historical air quality disparities.
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Air District Welcomes Two New Board Members
The Air District welcomed two new board members during its meeting on January 26: Patrick Hume, Sacramento County Supervisor (District 5), and Caity Maple, Sacramento Councilmember (District 5).
The Air District’s Governing Board is composed of 14 members, including all five Sacramento County Supervisors, four members of the Sacramento City Council, one member each from the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, and Rancho Cordova, and one member representing the cities of Galt and Isleton. Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy will serve as Chair, while City of Folsom Councilmember Sarah Aquino will serve as Vice Chair for the next two-year term.
“Our agency is pleased to welcome our new and returning board members and eager to continue the important clean air and climate change work we do under their leadership,” said Air District Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala. “Together, we will continue to ensure a strong air quality and climate action agenda for the greater capital region, including addressing the unique air quality challenges of our most vulnerable residents and communities and investing millions of dollars each year in innovative projects that protect public health and enhance the overall livability of our region.”
During the meeting, the Air District also recognized Sacramento Councilmember Eric Guerra for his four-year service as Board Chair and community members Bill Knowlton and Patricia Shelby for their four-year service as Co-Chairs of the AB 617 Steering Committee.
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Patrick Hume,
Sacramento County Supervisor
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Caity Maple,
Sacramento Councilmember
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(Left to right) Bill Knowlton, Eric Guerra, and Patricia Shelby receive recognition for their service to the District over the past four years. |
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Air District Board Member Eric Guerra Appointed to CARB
On January 30, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Air District Board Member Eric Guerra to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to represent the Air Districts of the Sacramento region. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain air quality standards.
Guerra is the current Vice Mayor for the City of Sacramento and has been a council member since 2015. Guerra has also served on the Air District Board for six years and led the Board as Chair from 2019-2022. His work at the regional and local level has prioritized climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, focusing on traditionally under-resourced communities. His work with the Air District and Sacramento County school districts also resulted in the creation of the largest zero emission school bus fleet in North America.
“The Sac Metro Air District is very pleased to see Eric Guerra’s well-deserved appointment to the California Air Resources Board. Through his work with the District and the City of Sacramento, he has proven time and time again that he is committed to innovative and equitable air quality solutions for Sacramento County residents, especially those in our most vulnerable communities,” says Air District Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala. “I have every faith that Eric will serve California well in this new role. I look forward to working with him, as well as other state and local partners, to achieve our clean air and climate goals and ensure a low-carbon future for all.”
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Tim Olson Reappointed to Air District Hearing Board
The Air District is pleased to announce that Tim Olson has been reappointed as a public member of the Hearing Board based on his professional experience and background, along with his exceptional service as a Hearing Board member. Olson has served on the Hearing Board since 2004 and recently retired from the California Energy Commission where he worked in various capacities since January 1978. His professional experience has given him an in-depth understanding of the impact of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in all types of energy and fuel combustion systems in both stationary and transportation sources regulated by the Air District. His experience also includes working as an advisor to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and as an associated agency, the Mobile Source Review Committee.
The Air District Hearing Board hears and decides petitions seeking exceptions to certain Air District rules, regulations, and permit requirements. The Hearing Board is comprised of one medical professional, one professional engineer, one attorney, and two members of the public. Appointments are made based on candidates’ qualifications to serve as representatives for their profession, their field of endeavor, or the community.
For more information about the Air District’s Hearing Board, please visit the District’s website.
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Clean Air and Climate Resilience Solutions
To improve air quality in the Sacramento region, the Air District funds a wide variety of projects for residents, businesses, non-profits, and public agencies that reduce fossil fuel combustion pollution, advance our efforts to meet federal air quality standards and state decarbonization goals, and result in important economic development co-benefits. Moreover, the Air District strives to advance environmental justice principles by giving communities an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health and delivering projects that improve air quality in underserved communities bearing a disproportionate share of negative environmental impacts.
Incentive Projects
The Air District is disbursing millions of dollars in mobile incentive funding to improve air quality and promote cleaner technology in the Sacramento region. Approximately $22 million in funding is currently available to replace existing heavy-duty vehicles with zero or near-zero emission trucks and buses, replace older farm tractors, upgrade locomotives, install low-carbon infrastructure, e.g., EV and hydrogen charging stations, and implement other innovative clean air solutions. The Air District is currently accepting applications for this program. To apply or learn more about this opportunity, please visit the Air District’s website here.
Grant recipients ready to take their projects to the next step are listed below. Congratulations to all our partners for helping to attain clean air and a low-carbon future for all!
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Brian Tanaka
Woodland, CA
$475,749
Diesel Tractor Replacement
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Joe Vitoria Dairy
Galt, CA
$366,573
Diesel Tractor Replacement
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Emerald Site Services
Sacramento, CA
$27,000
Electric UTV
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Pearadise Orchards, Inc.
Courtland, CA
$86,118
Diesel Tractor Replacement
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Daniel Diaz
Sacramento, CA
$1,427,990
Five Diesel Tractor Replacements
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Loren Bledsoe
Walnut Grove, CA
$227,283
Diesel Tractor Replacement
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Community Projects
In addition to the types of projects noted above, supported primarily by state and federal grants, the Air District also funds clean air projects using a portion of the revenue collected from air quality violations. These projects must be local strategies brought forward by community and non-profit groups designed to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life within our underserved neighborhoods.
Previously, the Air District helped fund non-profit 350 Sacramento’s community workshops to build box fan filters that help reduce indoor air pollution from wildfire smoke, and we are excited to announce our next awardee and their project.
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Mutual Assistance Network - $50,400
Mutual Assistance Network’s (MAN) mission is to advance social and economic opportunities while strengthening existing infrastructures in Northern Sacramento neighborhoods so that families can thrive. The District’s funding is supporting MAN’s clean air project at the new Del Paso Sports Complex including the installation of drought-tolerant and native landscaping, cooling pavement in the parking lot, equipment for electric vehicle charging stations, and the installation of solar lighting. These combined measures will reduce urban heat island effects and mitigate local pollution to improve the overall health of the community.
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Check Before You Burn: Season Wrap Up
The 2022-23 Check Before You Burn season has concluded. Each year, from November 1 through the end of February, residents and businesses in Sacramento County and the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento are required to check the daily burn status before using a wood-burning fireplace or other woodburning devices. “No Burn” days are called when weather conditions trap wood smoke particles near the ground. When burning restrictions are in place, it is illegal to burn wood, pellets, manufactured logs, or any other solid fuel when fine particle pollution (PM2.5) is forecast to be high.
This season, there were 31 days when burning restrictions were declared. There were 267 complaints and 31 violations issued.
As a reminder, this law is in place to protect public health and achieve federal air quality standards. If these standards are not met, the region risks losing eligibility for millions of federal dollars for transportation infrastructure.
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Spare The Air Launches May 1
From May through October, you and your family may feel the health effects of ground-level ozone air pollution, also known as smog. Smog is the region’s primary pollutant during these months and is primarily caused by emissions from cars and trucks interacting with the hot summer sun.
When the air quality index for ground-level ozone pollution is forecast to reach 126 or above in the Sacramento region, a Spare The Air alert will be issued informing residents of the poor air quality and encouraging them to help reduce pollution by carpooling, riding transit, teleworking, bicycling, walking and more.
Spare The Air is a partnership between the Sac Metro Air District and the neighboring Air Districts in the Sacramento region. For more information, visit SpareTheAir.com or download the Sacramento Region Air Quality App for alerts, forecasts, and real-time readings. |
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