by Nancy LaPlaca The Age of Consequences for so-called ‘externalities’ has arrived – but what is an externality? In the jargon of economists, an externality is a cost (or benefit) to a third party who did not agree to it. Air pollution is a classic externality. For example, power plant owners or car manufacturers don’t...

by Stephanie Johannes As a pediatrician and a mother, I am particularly concerned about the impacts of climate change on maternal and child health. Pregnant women are especially at risk from heat because they have a higher body temperature to start with, and are “cooling for two”, which makes them more susceptible to dehydration, heat exhaustion,...

by Joel Porter and Daisha Williams Last week CleanAIRE NC and SELC reached a settlement agreement with Align RNG and the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that will improve community health protections at a proposed biogas plant in Sampson County. Align RNG has agreed to set new limits on air pollution coming from the...

by Maria Sharova Earlier this year, our Citizen Science Program underwent a network review. While we were thinking about the next phase of our monitoring network, one of our partners at East Carolina University, Dr. Yoo Min Park, was hard at work distributing monitors in Pitt County. Dr. Park is an Assistant Professor of Geographic...

by Joel Porter The state of North Carolina has taken a monumental step in the fight against climate change. On July 13, the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) voted to approve our petition for North Carolina to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI – pronounced ‘Reggie’). This is a huge win that will improve...

Methyl bromide is an incredibly dangerous air pollutant. Exposure to methyl bromide can damage our eyes, skin, lungs, kidneys, and central nervous system. Yet despite the risks, this neurotoxin is commonly used through eastern North Carolina at log fumigation plants, endangering the health of the communities that surround these facilities. CleanAIRE NC worked for several...

by Kat Soltany In 1980, when Steve O’Neil was in the 6th grade, he gazed in awe as his teacher Mr. Jackson showed his class a solar-powered fan. The fan’s motor was connected to a small square solar panel, using energy from the sun to blow air into his face. Mr. Jackson then spoke about...

by Ulla Reeves Every year, over 12 million people visit North Carolina’s most treasured natural area, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Despite it being our region’s most iconic natural area, and the most visited national park in the United States, the Smokies are constantly facing threats from air pollution. The people visiting and enjoying the...

Trying to navigate North Carolina’s air quality permitting process? Need guidance on how (and when) to submit public comments on air emission sources? Then watch Air Permitting 101! Last week CleanAIRE NC Policy Associate Andrew Rasetti was joined by Mark Cuilla and Heather Sands from NC DEQ’s Division of Air Quality to go through the...

by June Blotnick, Executive Director It’s been a long time coming, but I’m thrilled that I can finally announce our big news: Clean Air Carolina is now CleanAIRE NC! And we’re not just changing our name. We’re unveiling a top-to-bottom redesign with a new logo, a new look, and a new website. Don’t worry, we’re...