Comite Civico Del Valle Honored as a Clean Air Hero

Moving Forward Network member Comite Civico Del Valle is being honored with a Clean Air Heroes award today by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for their ground-breaking IVAN Air Monitoring Network, which consists of 40 community-based air quality monitors in selected locations across the Imperial Valley. The award will be accepted by Humberto Lugo, IVAN Air Community & Environmental Policy Advocate.

Whether you are involved in environmental justice, citizen science, or community empowerment, you should understand the scope and breadth of what CCV has done, and consider what a similar approach could do for your community. 

For more information on the Clean Air Hero Awards and the other winners, check out the SCAQMD press release below. 

SCAQMD to Honor Clean Air Heroes at Annual Clean Air Awards Luncheon

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will host its 29th Annual Clean Air Awards today, Oct. 6, honoring individuals and businesses, public agencies and others who are making significant contributions to cleaner air in the Southland. The awards luncheon is being held at The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Leslie Lopez, meteorologist for ABC 7 Los Angeles, will emcee the event.

We are always honored to recognize those who are committed to cleaning the air,” said SCAQMD Governing Board Chairman William A. Burke, Ed.D. “These award winners are an inspiring example of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It’s our hope that others will follow in their footsteps.”

SCAQMD’s 2017 Clean Air Award winners are: 

Award for S. Roy Wilson Memorial Award for Leadership in Government

Congresswoman Karen Bass was re-elected to her fourth term representing the 37th Congressional District in November 2016. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where she is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa. Her local environmental priorities include:

 Expanding park and recreational facilities;
 Ensuring safe extraction of oil in the Inglewood Oil Field;
 Protecting Ballona Creek;
 Implementing groundbreaking environmental laws in California, such as AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act;
 Reducing pollution by supporting the expansion of public transportation such as the Crenshaw-LAX Light Rail, the Westside Extension Subway, expanded bus routes; and
 Cleaning up brownfields.

Award for Innovative Clean Air Technology

BYD Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles and the largest manufacturer of battery-electric buses in North America. BYD produced the first long-range battery-electric bus and then leveraged its expertise to launch a heavy industries product line of 100 percent electric buses, trucks, forklifts, and freight equipment. BYD’s buses are built in Los Angeles County, produce zero emissions, integrate easily with any existing transit fleet, and meet roughly 80 percent of urban transit system needs with ranges up to 200 miles on a single charge. BYD is also working with the SCAQMD and other partners to demonstrate zero-emission battery-electric class 8 yard trucks and drayage trucks in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Chevrolet’s Chevy Bolt EV is the first electric car to top 200 miles on a single charge with a price under $40,000. It was selected as the 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year as well as Green Car Journal’s 2017 Green Car of the Year.

Southern California Edison’s two Hybrid Enhanced Gas Turbine facilities add batteries and a new control system to traditional “peaker” power plants. SCE is the first utility in the country to integrate General Electric’s existing gas-turbine power generation with battery energy storage in a dynamic new hybrid system, achieving heightened grid efficiency in fulltime service. Additionally, Wellhead Power Solutions provided the selective catalytic reduction and
ammonia system upgrades, expertise in emissions control systems and calibrating low load operations of EGTs.

The hybrid system produces air quality benefits by allowing the turbine to operate in standby mode without combusting fuel, which lowers emissions, while the battery-stored energy enables immediate response to changing energy dispatch needs. The result of these innovations is that greenhouse gases and particulate emissions from each turbine are reduced by roughly 60 percent and demineralized water consumption drops by 2 million gallons per plant each year. This represents a major milestone in the capability to efficiently and reliably manage fluctuating or intermittent sources like wind and solar.

This innovative technology installation, achieved in ground-breaking partnership with SCE, GE and Wellhead, offers potential for other urban areas to achieve more reliable, economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable electricity systems.

Award for Model Community Achievement

The City of South Pasadena is the first city in the nation to be certified as a Green Zone City by the American Green Zone Alliance for using only zero-emission lawn equipment for all city parks, facilities, and medians.

San Bernardino County Transportation Authority implemented a team of compressed natural gas tow trucks for its Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program. The FSP tow trucks travel on selected San Bernardino County freeways during peak commute hours to assist motorists with car trouble.

Award for Clean Air Education Outreach

For 50 years, the American Lung Association in California, through its offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire, has educated the public about the impact of air pollution on lung health and worked to build public support and advocacy for clean air and lung health.

The Carson High School ESET Annual Alternative Energy Car Show is an educational and outreach effort that provides students with the opportunity to learn and experience various types of advanced technology and zero-emission vehicles. Approximately 1,500 students and faculty attend each year.

IVAN is an online environmental justice monitoring and reporting tool that connects government agencies and communities to solve environmental problems in seven communities across California including Coachella Valley and Wilmington. In 2016, the program added www.ivanair.org. The website provides air quality data from over 40 air monitoring stations in the Coachella Valley Salton Sea Air Basin including San Diego County. IVAN Air enables community members to view air quality levels with an easy-to-use air quality index or to register for email alerts in their neighborhood.

Award for Business Leadership in Air Quality

For 50 years Earth Friendly Products has been offering eco-friendly cleaning products manufactured in their carbon-neutral, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified facilities that utilize platinum zero-waste-certified guidelines and are powered by renewable energy. Chief Executive Officer Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks’ leads the family-owned business that makes more than 200 products at four sustainable manufacturing facilities across the country, including its Cypress headquarters.

Award for Youth Leadership in Air Quality

Starting at age 9 — after suffering from asthma for three years — environmental justice activist Nalleli Cobo from South Los Angeles worked with community members to oppose the operation of an oil production site located two blocks from her school. Now 16, she works with People Not Pozos — a member of Standing Together Against Neighborhood Drilling Los Angeles — to oppose oil drilling in local neighborhoods.

The Robert M. Zweig, M.D. Memorial Award

Dr. Stanley Galant is medical director of the Breathmobile, a mobile asthma treatment clinic, for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) where he oversees accessible healthcare services for asthma diagnosis, treatment, and education. He is also a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Galant earned his medical degree from the University of California Medical School, San Francisco, has served at CHOC since 1971, and is board-certified in pediatrics, allergy and immunology. 

SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.