CLEAN AIR
Like our water, clean air is vital for our survival. The debate about global warming leaves many of us wondering if we can do anything significant enough to change our trajectory of generating economic growth without polluting the air we breathe. To start, let's break down the sources of our air quality. Businesses (stationary sources), transportation (mobile sources), fires (natural sources) and agricultural uses (area) are some of the examples of activities that contribute to our air quality. Let's take a closer look at these activities to learn how we can make a difference.
Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, stationary sources such as factories and power plants were known to send toxic chemicals into the air, transporting these contaminants miles away from the smokestack, often creating dense blankets of smog. With passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970 (and amendments in 1990), stationary sources and mobile sources were regulated, reducing the release of some of the most dangerous contaminants into the air that we breathe. Stationary source control is complex, however there are actions that can be taken at the local level to make our voices heard. As new factories come online or modify their processes, there is a public participation period that allows us to comment on the air permitting requirements. EPA provides useful information on this process here.
Mobile sources such as trucks, airplanes, buses, trains and automobiles make up approximately 32% of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Thirteen states are aggressively moving toward lower emission vehicles (LEVs) or zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in their government fleets and mandating manufacturers to sell a fixed portion of ZEVs each year. 48 of the states in the US have put purchasing or tax credit incentives for hybrid and or electric vehicles; some of the states have gone to utility time of use rate reduction strategies to reduce electricity use at peak power demand periods during the day for recharging electric vehicles. We're making progress but there is more work to be done in this area. Technology advances are one place where we see evidence of interesting research in the mobile source area as well as some stationary source control, especially in urban environments like London in the United Kingdom.
Fires play a major role in the natural source category that impacted Camas as recently as October of 2022 when the Nakia Creek fire burned over 1,500 acres, requiring the evacuation of more than 2,900 homes. The resultant air quality from that fire and other fires in recent years approached unhealthy levels that neared 200 on the air quality index, severely restricting any outdoor activities for over a week. Some of the fires have natural causes such as lightning strikes, but others are caused by humans. Common to each of the causes however is an increasingly hotter climate and extended periods with low or no precipitation that create extensive areas of dry, easily combustible fuels. Forest and invasive plant management and advancing fire science are two key imperatives at the regional scale that deserve our attention and support. The US Forest Service published a new 10-year strategy in 2022 to build resilience into our forested lands.
Farming is a part of our cultural identity in the United States. It puts food on the table for over 330 million people, yet not all farms or farming practices are created equally. For livestock farming, this area source creates methane (CH4) emissions that are known as greenhouse gases. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, enteric fermentation (the decay of manure and conversion to CH4) accounts for nearly 27% of all US CH4 emissions. According to an article published in the Journal Animals, changes to diet, genetic selectivity for dairy cattle and other initiatives can actually reduce the CH4 produced. The good news is that many farmers are engaged in trying to change how their livestock are managed and meaningfully reduce the ecological footprint left from raising cattle for food or milk. Stay tuned as we reach out to farmers in our community to hopefully share some local success stories.
ACT LOCALLY
|
Example 1. Clean Alternative Fuel & Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Purchase - Sales/Use Tax Exemptions in Washington
We see an increasing amount of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles around town. Did you know that the purchase or lease of these vehicles may be eligible for a tax exemption in Washington? The purchase must occur after Aug 1, 2019 and the incentive expires on July 31, 2025. To learn more, check out the Washington Department of Revenue's fact sheet.
|
Example 2. Plant a native tree
Did you know that the average person produces 110,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) annually? This greenhouse gas and others like methane traps heat which leads to a warmer planet. Planting just one tree sequesters 22 pounds of CO2 and releases enough oxygen for you to breathe for two years! Trees can also provide shade to homes, reducing the home's temperature by up to 10 degrees. Learn more about tree planting benefits here.
|
Example 3. Buy Energy Star Appliances and Recycle your Old Refrigerator
Our local utility, Clark Public Utilities has an excellent program called "Going Green." The theme across the board is small actions you can take locally to reduce energy and improve our environment. Recycling an old refrigerator, rather than moving it to the man cave is a smart way to just remove an older, inefficient fridge off the grid. In many cases, these appliances may use up to 3 times more energy.
|
I WANT IN ON THE ACTION
Are you looking for a way to join the cause of Making Every Day Earth Day? Click here
Are you looking for a way to join the cause of Making Every Day Earth Day? Click here