The RAQC is pleased to announce the addition of two new staff members, Lindsey Young and Jessica Ferko! Lindsey joined the RAQC in March 2019 as the Administrative Coordinator. In this role, she is responsible for clerical and administrative duties, including accounting functions, and she assists staff with program administration functions, including local, state and federal grants, projects and initiatives, and the RAQC’s websites. Jessica joined the RAQC in April 2019 as an Air Quality Planner/Analyst, and she works under the direction of the Technical Program Manager, and in collaboration with internal and external staff, to perform specialized work in air quality planning, control strategy evaluation, and stakeholder engagement. Please join us in welcoming our new staff members!
On May 1st, the RAQC, City of Lone Tree and Rampart Range Metropolitan District will celebrate five new electric vehicle charging stations being made available to the community, including a next-generation DC Fast Charger. Find more information and rsvp here.
In an effort to keep interested stakeholders informed of current happenings with RAQC programs, partners, and air quality news and events, the RAQC created “The Air Monitor” quarterly e-newsletter. You can read the second issue here. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter, sign up here or contact Sara Goodwin at sgoodwin@raqc.org.
In recognition of Earth Day – April 22, 2019 – the RAQC’s Simple Steps. Better Air. (SSBA) team partnered with VF Corporation’s Colorado Classic Pro-Women Cycling Race on their announcement that the race has been awarded “Certifiably Green” status by the City of Denver. No other bike race in the state of Colorado has received this designation and the Colorado Classic is the largest event in Colorado to receive this certification. Get more information on the announcement here. The SSBA team is also collaborating with the Colorado Classic to participate in race-day activities, which will be August 22-25 in the Denver area.
The City of Fort Collins, in partnership with Colorado State University, is unveiling a one-of-a-kind Ozone Monitoring Station. This innovative exhibit features a solar powered ozone monitor installed in a bench, which will be surrounded by plants that can be damaged by ozone. Attendees will see how this technology will teach families in the community about poor air quality and the importance of ozone alerts, especially for protecting vulnerable populations. Click here for a schematic of the Ozone Monitoring Station.
Details of the ribbon-cutting event are:
Monday, April 15th at 3:00 PM
Gardens on Spring Creek
2145 Centre Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Today, Governor Jared Polis released a statement on the state’s decision to withdraw a request to extend the attainment date for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This extension would have given Colorado additional time to come into compliance with the health-based standard.
You can read the press release here, and the full letter here.
The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and its program partners are pleased to announce the first round of projects funded through ALT Fuels Colorado, utilizing funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Emission Environmental Mitigation Trust. To access a list of projects by agency name and awarded amount click here. A second call for ALT Fuels Colorado Mitigation Trust projects has taken place, and an updated awardee list will be posted once the funding for those projects are approved by the Trust.
A list of ALT Fuels Colorado projects funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program can be accessed here.
The RAQC’s Board of Directors and staff spent their Friday getting to know each other better and collaborating on how the RAQC can best address important air quality issues in our region.
The RAQC’s TV Meteorologist Advisory Group – with meteorologists from all local television stations and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) – met to discuss the region’s upcoming ozone season and how best to communicate to their respective viewers the “Simple Steps to Better Air” we all can take to make a positive impact on our air quality.
