More Freight, Dirtier Locomotives in California

It’s no surprise that more containers coming into California ports means worse air quality. What is unexpected is that dirtier locomotives are making a comeback, replacing cleaner, newer models in the state. Data from the California Air Resources Board show that this is the case. The Federal Government ranks engines by ‘tiers’. The higher the … Read more

California Is Cleaning Up Emissions from Container and Tanker Ships

Everyone knows that Los Angeles has a car problem. We drive too far, and too often. Some people say that there is a car culture here. It’s no surprise then that Southern California has some of the worst air quality in the country. While cars get a lot of the attention, one of the major … Read more

The Los Angeles Summer of Smog

California always makes headlines for its dedication to clean energy. Just last month Governor Brown signed SB 100, setting a target for emissions-free electricity generation by 2045. The state’s resilient commitment to climate science is heard around the world. But these stories mask a painful truth: the state had a historically bad summer of air … Read more

It’s Time for California to Rethink Air Quality Outreach

California is pushing the envelope when it comes to environmental policy. The state is pioneering a community-driven regulatory and environmental policy scheme. The idea is ambitious, and to be successful, the state must find new ways to bring in the public. This new strategy is part of major legislation AB 134 & AB 617, both … Read more

With Successful Vote, Air Regulators Take First Step Toward Reining In Pollution from Warehouses and Railyards

On Friday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) took an important step toward cleaning up the freight industry in Southern California. In a highly anticipated vote that had been delayed for months, the Governing Board directed its staff to go ahead with drafting regulations for limiting emissions from railyards and warehouses. The Board, … Read more

Judge Blocks Huge Warehouse Project Over Environmental Concerns

A Riverside County Judge has sided with the Coalition for Clean Air and our partner environmental justice and conservation organizations in blocking construction of a massive warehouse in Southern California. In the case against the City of Moreno Valley, the court found that the Environmental Impact Report on the project was inadequate, and had to … Read more