Congratulations to NC’s Climate Champions We’re excited to announce the winners of our 2021 Blue Sky Awards! Each year, CleanAIRE NC honors the individuals, organizations, and partners who have shown extraordinary commitment to tackling the climate crisis and improving North Carolina’s air quality. On Wednesday, November 10th, CleanAIRE NC presented the following 2021 Blue Sky Awards...

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...

Press Release from the Southern Environmental Law Center FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT Kathleen Sullivan 919-945-7106 [email protected] Settlement sets new limits, improves monitoring on gas project to better protect community CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Eastern North Carolina will benefit from new operating limits and better monitoring that will provide greater protections against...

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...

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...