Clean Air Excellence Award Recipients: Year 2015

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Clean Air Technology	

Community Action	

Education/Outreach	

Regulatory/Policy Innovations	

Transportation Efficiency Innovations
Gregg Cooke Visionary Program	

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    The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas developed the Clean Air Partners Program in 2001 after learning most
    pollutants that create harmful ground-level ozone come from on-road vehicles. The CLEAN AIR Force recruited
    six major employers to charter the program and develop strategies to reduce emissions. The program is open
    to all employers in the 5-county Central Texas region, and is open to any type of employer. Partners include
    corporations, nonprofits and governments. Today, there are 40 Partners representing 100,000 employees. The
    Clean Air Partners Program assists employers in reducing ozone-forming emissions with a flexible menu of
    options. By becoming a Partner, employers volunteer to implement clean business practices and reduce
    emissions that contribute to unhealthy air. Strategies include employee education, alternative commutes
    (public transit, vanpooling, carpooling, teleworking, biking, flexible work schedules, etc.), use of cleaner
    fleets, clean energy practices (conservation, green power sources), low-emission construction and landscaping
    activities, water conservation and other proactive measures that contribute to cleaner air. Becoming a Partner
    makes good business sense, as many of the strategies used also save employers and employees time and
    money. One of the program goals is to reduce Partners' commuting employees from Central Texas roads by
    10%. The program is currently reducing approximately 10,000 commuters from our roads today, leading to
    less traffic and less air pollution. The program empowers businesses and organizations to take responsibility
    at the employer/employee level to improve public health as well as the health of our economy through
    improved air quality.
    
    Club Ride Commuter Services
    
    Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
    
    Club Ride is a free program of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada designed to
    improve air quality and encourage commute alternatives, such as riding transit, carpooling, vanpooling,
    walking, bicycling, working compressed work weeks and telecommuting. Club Ride partners with nearly BOO
    employers and more than 24,000 registered commuters in Clark County to meet these goals. Club Ride's
    efforts yield significant improvements in air quality and overall quality of life. Approximately 38% of our
    members list 'helping the environment' as their biggest motivation for reporting their alternative commutes.
    Club Ride's 2014 highlights include: 59 tons of carbon monoxide emissions reduced; 2,324 tons of
    greenhouse gases reduced; over 1 million clean commute trips reported; 5.9 million miles removed from the
    road; and Si ,61 6,931 in commuter cost savings. Our community outreach program is designed to reach the
    largest number of commuters, thereby making the greatest impact on clean air. While we promote Club Ride
    through press releases, social media, marketing materials and advertising in English and Spanish), our
    employer outreach program is our most significant method of increasing membership. We make special
    accommodations for the unique 24-hour workforce in Clark County and tailor the turn-key program to meet
    the needs of each employer. We make reporting commutes easy, with a free mobile app, 86 worksite-based
    touchscreen kiosks, worksite VeriFones and an interactive online commute calendar. Commuters can also text
    or call us to report their commutes. Our outreach coordinators conduct over 650 worksite and community
    events every year, including health fairs, orientations, and special events such as Bike Week and Earth Day. In
    2014, Club Ride welcomed 1 0,287 new commuters to the program.
    
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    Air Quality Partnership of the Delaware Valley
    
    Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
    
    

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    The Air Quality Partnership of the Delaware Valley (AQP) has been actively educating the public in the Greater
    Philadelphia region about ways to reduce emissions that lead to ozone pollution and fine particle pollution
    (PM2.5) since its formation in 1 997. The AQP is a program of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning
    Commission and consists of a coalition of agencies, businesses and non-profits. The Partnership's network of
    members, employees and stakeholders encourage voluntary actions to reduce emissions by taking alternative
    forms of transportation, conserving energy in the home, educating the public about wastefulness of idling
    vehicles, and sharing ways to reduce emissions while refueling, among other efforts. The AQP is guided by a
    board composed of active members who serve as message advocates. Their grassroots efforts allow the
    program to sustain a presence in the region and extend the reach of paid media efforts. The AQP utilizes
    unique and evolving outreach and education strategies to maintain a fresh and relevant message that
    emphasizes the benefits of protecting air quality and engaging the public in preventing pollution. Examples
    include working with partners on an anti-idling campaign that resulted in the creation of an online idling
    reporting platform (www.idlefreephilly.org), partnering with local media outlets to faithfully report air quality
    conditions, publishing an air quality activity book meeting Common Core curriculum standards distributed in
    Pennsylvania and New Jersey, holding a gas lawnmower trade-in event, and producing annual outreach
    campaigns. The AQP has played a role in the region's progress towards attaining the air quality standards for
    ozone and PM2.5 pollution by consistently utilizing its partnerships to educate the region about preventing air
    pollution and protecting public health.
    
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    Oil and Gas Emission Reduction Initiative
    
    Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
    
    In 2014, the State of Colorado adopted new rules to further minimize air quality impacts associated with oil
    and gas development. The regulations resulted from Governor John Hickenlooper's continuing emphasis on
    collaborative solutions to ensure responsible oil and gas development. Colorado's rules expand upon existing
    state law and the EPA's recent New Source Performance Standards. The rules were developed after an extensive
    stakeholder process lead by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, working closely with
    diverse partners. A broad coalition of industry, environmental and local government stakeholders supported
    the rules, which were adopted by Colorado's Air Quality Control Commission. The rules target hydrocarbon
    emissions that can contribute to harmful ozone formation, as well as climate change. The rules directly
    address methane emissions, such as leaks that may occur from storage tanks and components. The rules
    include a comprehensive leak detection and repair (LDAR) program for oil and gas facilities. Many operators
    will use infrared (IR) cameras, which detect emissions that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.
    Colorado inspectors are already utilizing IR cameras. These and other emerging technologies are effective
    tools in reducing air pollution. The rules also require Storage Tank Emission Management (STEM) plans to
    ensure that systems are designed to adequately handle pressures and prevent venting, such as from thief
    hatches and pressure relief devices. Colorado estimates that the rules will reduce over 60,000 tons of methane
    emissions and over 92,000 tons of volatile organic compound emissions per year. This innovative program will
    provide a lasting benefit for Colorado air quality and can serve as a model for responsible oil and gas
    development across the country.
    
    Transportation Efficiency Innovations
    
    

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    Fleet Hybrid Electric and All Electric Vehicle Program
    
    County of Sonoma Fleet Operations
    
    The County of Sonoma has been a leader in transportation-related emission reductions in California for more
    than 24 years. Starting in 1 990, the County tested a prototype all-electric van in a fleet environment. In 2006,
    the County adopted a Climate Protection Action Plan that established a target of reducing greenhouse gas
    emissions from its on-road fleet by 20% before the end of 201 0. The target was more aggressive than the
    State of California's AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act of the same year with a compliance date 1 0 years
    sooner than the state. Fleet related GHG emissions have been reduced by over 1,81 5 tons even though overall
    vehicle miles traveled increased by 1 0 million miles during the last 11 of 1 3 years. The County's investment in
    hybrid electric and all-electric vehicle technology has resulted in one of the largest BEV, HEV, NEV and PHEV
    government fleets in North America. The hybrid fleet has reduced gasoline and diesel fuel usage by over
    1 66,500 gallons while traveling over 1 0 million miles since 2002. The County took a lead role in creating one
    of the first comprehensive regulatory guideline documents in the nation addressing the installation of EV
    charging station infrastructure with the publication of the 'County of Sonoma Electric Vehicle Charging Station
    Program Installation Guidelines' in July of 2011. The document has been used as a reference by government
    agencies across the United States and in other parts of the world. The County received the California EPA
    Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award in 2013 and The Bay Area Climate Collaborative's
    'Most EV Ready Community in the Bay Area' award in 2011 and 2012.
    
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    Tribal Air Program and Healthy Homes Project
    
    Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
    Environmental Health Consultation Team
    
    The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is a nonprofit tribal organization owned and operated by
    Alaska Native people. The Consortium is the largest, most comprehensive tribal health organization in the
    United States and it delivers a broad range of services, from specialty medical care and community health
    programs, to construction of clean-water and sanitation facilities. As part of ANTHC, the Environmental Health
    Consultation Team (EHC) provides cutting-edge air quality services to improve the lives of Alaska Native
    people and their communities. The EHC Statewide Tribal Air Program delivers technical consultation, air
    monitoring assistance, training, assessment, funding, and overall support to tribal communities throughout
    Alaska to address air quality concerns. The program has engaged in over 20 locally-led air quality projects
    and completed over 50 community air quality assessments which have reduced criteria air pollutants, raised
    greater public awareness of air quality, and enhanced tribal capacity to address local air quality issues. The
    ANTHC EHC Healthy Homes Project has also made impacts by engaging partners such as tribes, residents,
    housing authorities, government agencies, international nonprofits, hospitals, and regional health
    corporations to deliver a multi-staged intervention in over 60 homes that measures impacts of low-cost
    modifications and resident education on indoor air quality and children's respiratory health. The ANTHC EHC
    personnel often travel to remote locations via small aircraft, boat, and snow machine to reach the populations
    they serve. The ANTHC Environmental Health Consultation Team is recognized for exemplifying leadership and
    innovation in their initiatives to provide air quality services to remote and underserved populations of Alaska.
    
    

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