News

RAQC’s TV Meteorologist Advisory Group Meets To Discuss Region’s Air Quality Challenges and Solutions

RAQC’s TV Meteorologist Advisory Group Meets To Discuss Region’s Air Quality Challenges and Solutions

The Regional Air Quality Council’s (RAQC) TV Meteorologist Advisory Group met virtually in late-February to discuss the region’s current air quality issues, simple steps we can each take to improve air quality, and the RAQC’s Simple Steps. Better Air. (SSBA) messaging and resources that are available to them as the summer ozone season approaches. The Advisory Group is comprised of meteorologists from all local television stations and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). Look for SSBA content and Ozone Action Alert Day notifications in future weather forecasts in your favorite local broadcast.

Colorado Energy Office Releases Request for Applications for eBike Deployment Projects

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has released a Request for Applications (RFA) to solicit proposals to develop and implement eBike deployment projects. As part of the State’s Can Do Colorado Community Challenge (CDCCC), this program seeks to increase access to eBikes for low-income essential workers while maximizing air quality benefits. Additional program objectives include piloting a variety of eBike distribution models including individual ownership and shared deployment, expanding eBike access in communities across the state, and laying a foundation for future scalability and replicability.

This project is being funded in partnership between CEO, City and County of Denver, and the RAQC for a total of approximately $560,000. For more information about the RFA, including documents and program updates, click here. General comments and inquiries may be sent to ebikes@state.co.us.

RAQC’s Session Proposal Selected for Colorado Municipal League 2021 Annual Conference

The RAQC is excited to announce that its session proposal, Thriving Communities Work Together to Improve Air Qualityhas been selected as part of the program for the 2021 Colorado Municipal League (CML) Annual Conference. The objective of the RAQC’s session is to educate local governments and organizations about the grant funding and resources available to them from the RAQC and the importance of collaborative partnerships in creating thriving communities with improved air quality. 

CML received a record number of submissions for conference sessions and the RAQC’s “…topic was one of the best we (CML) received.” The conference will take place June 22 – 25, 2021, in Snowmass, Colo.

The RAQC and CEO Open Charge Ahead Colorado Application for Electric Vehicle and Charging Station Funding

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) have opened the Charge Ahead Colorado application for electric vehicle (EV) and charging station funding. At this time, the RAQC has funding for both charging stations and EVs for applicants within the Denver Metro Area. CEO has funding for charging stations for applicants outside the Denver Metro Area. All charging stations are required to be networked.

An application guide, informational webinar, application and other grant resources can be found on the Charge Ahead Colorado Homepage.

Air Quality Control Commission Approves Serious SIP

On December 17th and 18th the RAQC, in coordination with Air Pollution Control Division staff, proposed the Serious Area Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Denver Metro/North Front Range, along with accompanying regulations, to the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC). In a unanimous vote, the AQCC approved the proposed SIP which now goes before the Colorado State Legislature for review and will subsequently be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency in Spring 2021.

RAQC Announces First Round of Clean Air Champions

The RAQC is pleased to announce its first round of Clean Air Champions:

City of Fort Collins: The City of Fort Collins has been an active advocate for air quality for more than 25 years through supporting community based efforts to improve air quality as well as being a leader in reducing air emissions throughout their own operations. Recently the city has been focused on electrification efforts – including the electrification of commercial grade lawn and garden equipment used by the city’s parks department and continuing efforts to electrify the municipal fleet.

Regional Transportation District: RTD has been an active partner in improving air quality since its inception through its purpose to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and its leadership in electrifying its fleets.

The RAQC is pleased to highlight these members of our community who have demonstrated this continuous commitment to improving air quality in the Denver Metro/North Front Range region. Additional information on the awardees and their current projects are available on the Clean Air Champion program page.

The next application round will open in Spring 2021, with awardees to be recognized in Summer 2021.