Editor’s Note: Three Clean Air Awards for improving air quality and climate protection were presented at Breathe California’s 1st Annual Awards Reception today. Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker, Chair of the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District delivered the keynote presentation, “Keeping our Air Clean: Air Quality Management on the Central Coast” to a group of 75 civic, non-profit and business leaders.
Monterey, Calif. Breathe California Central Coast is recognized two Central Coast organizations and one individual today with the 2011 Annual Clean Air Awards. The awards were in three categories: Leadership,
to recognize an individual or organization advancing awareness of air pollution, climate and public health and commitment to finding workable solutions to mitigate its effects; Technology, to recognize the development or use of technologies that reduce air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions; and, Climate Change, to recognize programs, products, protocols that reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency was presented the award in the Category of Climate Change. The agency has made environmental stewardship a very high priority, recycling valuable resources such as water, power, and biosolids and preventing harmful emissions and discharges whenever possible. They voluntarily utilize process controls, co-generation and solar power generation in their operations reducing regional power consumption and on-site power generation. The use of co-generation and photovoltaic panels alone has reduced PG&E power purchases by 80-90%. Combined, these provide 9,353,000 KwH/yr. The agency harvests 100% of the methane gas it produces from the anaerobic digestion of biomass. Ninety five percent (95%) of the methane produced is utilized to generate power for onsite use. Excess power is sent to the power grid. In 2010 this prevented the emission of 73,000,000 cubic meters of methane, which is 25 times worse than CO2 as a greenhouse gas, which directly affects global climate change. Brad Hagemann, Assistant General Manager accepted the award.
Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority received the award in the Technology category. Utilizing bio-fuels in transfer fleet equipment, solar voltaic system and landfill gas recovery power system, the agency has dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. Landfill operations comprise 90% of the authority's emissions. To address this, the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority is currently leading all US solid waste management agencies in launching the environmental review process of incorporating conversion technologies for the processing of post-recycled residual municipal solid waste into high value products and fuel or electricity, leading to a future without landfills. Using these conversion technologies, the authority is projected to reduce air contaminates significantly over the most effective landfill gas capture systems currently in use. Additionally, the conversion technology will generate a ½ ton of carbon credits for every ton of waste processed- estimated to be up to 65,000 tons of carbon saved per year. Though only required to achieve a landfill diversion rate of 50% by the year 2000, they have achieved a nearly 70% diversion rate and set a goal to reach 75% diversion by 2015. General Manager, Patrick Mathews accepted the award.
Janet Brennan who has been involved in air pollution issues as a volunteer or a professional for almost 40 years was given the award in the Leadership Category. Ms. Brennan's efforts are tireless in the pursuit of clean air. As an environmental planner and civic leader, she has educated decision makers and the public on climate change and regional air quality issues and influenced the development of air pollution control policies and interventions that have truly helped improve the air we breathe.
Air pollution and global warming present a significant danger to the environment and to public health. Exposure to high levels of air pollution is linked to the onset of asthma, the development of lung cancer and premature death.
Breathe California is dedicated to fighting lung disease, advocating for clean air and advancing public health. Since the 1950s, we have addressed the most serious health threats on the Central Coast through grassroots programs that empower individual, institutional and community change for better breathing and healthier living. For more information about Breathe California, visit www.breathecentral.org . Contact the office at (831) 422-7306, Suite 7 A, 971 N. Main Street, Salinas, CA 93906.