By 2050, Phoenix will achieve a level of air quality that is healthy for humans and the natural environment. This includes out performing all federal standards and achieving a visibility index of good or excellent on 90% of days or more. (Depending on the year, Phoenix currently achieves this good or excellent visibility rating on 70%-80 of days.)
What are we doing now?
On July 26, 2017 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
selected the City of Phoenix as a 2017 recipient of the Diesel Emission
Reduction act (DERA) grant. The grant period started in October 2017 and goes
thru December 2019. The grant will help replace 17 model year 1997-2003
vehicles with newer 2017 model vehicles, and will also provide funding to
install diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) retrofit technologies on 10 fire
pumpers. The proposed project for vehicle replacement and technology
installations will achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms
of tons of pollution produced and directly improve air quality. This
grant will reduce NOx, PM2.5, and HC emissions from diesel fleets by 4.292 tons
per-year, thereby reducing local and regional air pollution and fleets impact
on resident’s health. As of August 01, 2018 the City has installed the 10
diesel Emission oxidation catalysts (DOCs), and has ordered some of the
replacement vehicles to help reduce emissions.
The city of Phoenix is strongly committed to reducing air pollution and protecting public health. The city implements a wide range of air quality programs to reduce ozone and dust (particulate) pollution.
The city's green building and renewable energy programs reduce air pollution from energy production and reduce energy costs for city operations. Transit, light rail, bikeways, and pedestrian-friendly development reduce vehicle emissions and promote land use planning and urban designs for a more sustainable environment.
The city's aggressive dust control program includes asphalt treatments for roads, shoulders, alleys and city-owned parking lots. Trespass prevention and dust controls for undeveloped parks and other vacant land reduce dust emissions. In addition, more than 500 staff are trained each year in dust control methods for city operations to meet stringent rules adopted by the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
