The Valley Air District recently joined air districts from across California at the State Capitol to highlight the innovative programs, technologies and partnerships that are helping to create cleaner air and healthier communities throughout the state.

The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association co-hosted the Clean Air, Clean Solutions Showcase spotlighted how state funding and public-private partnerships are assisting businesses, public agencies, schools and other organizations in replacing older, higher-emitting vehicles and equipment with cleaner technologies that improve air quality while supporting California's economy.

The event gave legislators, stakeholders and the public an up-close look at the many ways local air districts are reducing emissions and protecting public health through a variety of clean air solutions.

Besides visiting the Valley Air District’s booth for information on incentive grant programs and air quality resources, attendees had the opportunity to tour the District’s air monitoring van, learn about the four Valley communities selected under Assembly Bill 617 (read below), and view dozens of different pieces of equipment that demonstrate the growing role of zero-emission technology in improving the air quality.

As mentioned above, the District joined other air districts earlier this month at the California State Capitol for the Clean Air, Clean Solutions event to highlight, among other things, how community-driven efforts in the state’s Community Air Protection Program (AB 617) are helping improve air quality in areas most impacted by pollution. The event provided an opportunity for District staff to connect with legislators, agency representatives and members of the public and share the progress being made through AB 617.

District staff hosted an AB 617 exhibit spotlighting the work underway in the Valley’s four AB 617 communities of South Central Fresno, Shafter, Stockton and Arvin/Lamont. The exhibit demonstrated how input from residents and community partners is being turned into action through Community Emissions Reduction Programs, enhanced air monitoring, incentive funding, enforcement efforts and other local clean air solutions.

The District also shared how lessons learned through its AB 617 work have helped expand clean air tools, resources and services in other under-resourced communities across the Valley.

The lines of parents dropping off their children or picking them up at neighborhood schools mean the new school year has begun for many students. With more parents driving on the roads, increased vehicle traffic can contribute to a higher level of the  pollutants that help form ground-level ozone, particularly on hot, sunny days in the Valley. Schools and parents can help reduce air pollution and help lessen the exposure students have to vehicle emissions by limiting idling vehicles on school campuses when temperatures are favorable.

Ozone pollution can make it harder for children to breathe, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and worsening asthma or other respiratory symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are still developing, and they breathe more air relative to their body size than adults, increasing their exposure to ground-level ozone.

To minimize pollution associated with school-site vehicle idling, the Air District has partnered with hundreds of Valley schools through its Healthy Air Schools program to remind parents to turn off their car engines while waiting to pick up or drop off students when temperatures allow. Schools can post and display the English and/or Spanish “no-idling” signs, especially at popular pick-up and drop off spots.

To learn more about Healthy Air Schools or participate in the program, visit valleyair.org/HAL/Schools. Schools can request new or replacement No-Idling signs by emailing public.education@valleyair.org and indicating how many signs are needed in each language, English or Spanish.

Whether a Valley fleet is big or small, or whether it belongs to a private business or a public agency, the District’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program can help make the transition to cleaner transportation.

Eligible applicants include city and county agencies, school districts, universities, nonprofits and private organizations that want to replace Class 6 and 7 on-road diesel and non-diesel trucks powered by combustion engine with zero-emission, all-electric trucks.

To be eligible:

• Existing truck must be a class 6-7 (GVWR 19,501 - 33,000)
• Existing truck must have a diesel or gasoline internal combustion engine
• Existing truck must have operated 7,000 miles during each 12-month period for the previous 24 months
• Existing truck must be destroyed
• New truck must be zero-emission, all electric

See program guidelines for full description of eligibility.

Applicants should not purchase a new vehicle before receiving a contract from the District.

To learn more and review program requirements, visit the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle webpage.