Ozone

Houston Metro Bus

Houston Transit Agencies Offer ‘Free Fare Fridays’ for Ozone Action Month

Harris County is one of several Texas counties that failed EPA standards for clean air in recent years.

September 10, 2024 - Houston Public Media

Distant view of brown oil pump jack in a flat desert with cloudy blue sky.

High Ozone Levels Threaten New Mexico Oil Town

The small community of Loving, New Mexico has higher ozone levels than dense cities like Los Angeles.

August 22, 2024 - KUNM

Close-up of technician wearing gloves installing photovoltaic solar panel.

The Year in Good Climate News

Despite the ups and downs, there are reasons to feel optimistic.

December 28, 2023 - CNN

Orange sky in San Francisco during wildfires

Report: The West Is the Worst for Air Quality

Thanks to longer fire seasons and increasingly intense blazes, Western states are experiencing the nation’s worst air quality.

April 27, 2022 - High Country News

Northern California Wilidfires

Wildfire Smoke Affecting Communities Across the Country

Wildfires in California and Colorado are spewing out smoke that is traveling to other parts of the country. The health effects of the dirty air are substantial, and they could last long after the fires are out.

August 31, 2020 - Inside Climate News

Los Angeles Harbor Freeway

California Has 8 of the 10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.

Despite ever-stricter air-quality regulations and dropping emissions, the American Lung Association once again finds the state to have some of the worst air in the nation.

April 24, 2018 - USA Today

Air Pollution

U.S. EPA Misses Deadline for Air Quality Maps; 14 States Sue

The legal battles over the Trump Administration's handling of environmental regulations at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fired up again this week.

December 9, 2017 - SFGate

Air Pollution from Natural Gas Industry in Pennsylvania on the Rise

With a 32 percent increase in natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, it is no surprise that emissions are increasing as well, particularly sulfur dioxide. However, the increase was dwarfed by decreases from the power sector.

August 27, 2016 - The Allegheny Front

The Greening of Large Trucks Begins at California's Ports

A Planetizen blog post by Casey Brazeal asks, "When will the trucking industry electrify?" Three truck manufacturers and electric truck builder BYD Motors are now in competition thanks to a $23.6 million state grant to the South Coast Air District.

May 9, 2016 - Fleet Owner

Volkswagen Submits Another Recall Plan for Diesel Cars

Volkswagen has already submitted its recall plan for its 2-liter diesel engines—it was rejected by both the EPA and California Air Resources Board. It also needed to submit a recall plan for 3-liter diesel engines to CARB by Feb. 2, which it did.

February 4, 2016 - Bloomberg Business

San Bernardino

Where Is the Los Angeles Heat Island Effect Most Intense?

No, this is not a trick question. By definition, you'd think the answer is L.A., where the heat is generated, but it's actually San Bernardino, 56 miles to the east. Turns out that like ozone, heat is transported by the wind.

September 24, 2015 - KPCC

Supreme Court to Review EPA's Mercury Standard

The top court's decision on Tuesday to review the first-ever regulation of mercury is a setback for Obama's environmental agenda, in part because it has implications for other EPA initiatives including Wednesday's proposal to tighten the ozone rule.

November 27, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Meant to Deter, Utah's Bad Air Alerts Actually Increase Driving

Call it the law of unintended consequences. Alerts of "bad air days" that ask motorists in the Wasatch Front to reduce driving had the opposite effect, prompting some residents to drive away from lowlands to the mountains where air may be healthier.

September 12, 2013 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Cities and States Most Impacted by Early Deaths from Air Pollution

An MIT study finds 200,000 early deaths per year in U.S. are attributed to air pollution. The biggest source is vehicle tailpipes at 53,000. Most impacted state: California; most impacted city: Baltimore.

September 3, 2013 - MIT News

Court of Appeals Deals Second Blow to EPA on Clean Air Regs

For the second time, a court has thrown out EPA efforts to address pollution from power plants in 'clean-air' states that cause pollution downwind. This time, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was the victim.

August 25, 2012 - The New York Times - Environment

In L.A., Pollution is Down Dramatically but Bad Air Remains

A new study by NOAA scientists and colleagues shows a stunning reduction in vehicle-related air pollutants in the Los Angeles basin over the past several decades. Despite the gains, unhealthy air remains.

August 20, 2012 - NOAA

Bad Day To Give Away Gasoline

A promotion by Shell Oil and Lucky supermarkets conflicted with a regional alert to reduce driving due to an ozone alert. Motorists lined up in the morning for free gasoline at a San Francisco Shell station during a 'Spare The Air' Day on Sept. 28.

September 30, 2011 - The San Francisco Examiner

New Report: Latinos Disproportionately Impacted By Air Pollution

One out of every two Latino's live in the nation's top 25 most ozone-polluted cities according to a new report. KQED's California Report interviews one of the co-authors, the Director of Latino Outreach for NRDC, in this radio report.

September 23, 2011 - The California Report

Obama Axes New Ozone Rules

President Obama has directed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to drop proposed regulations that would have reduced ozone (smog), handing a victory to Republicans and industry that had opposed them, to the dismay of the environmental community.

September 3, 2011 - Bloomberg News

Smog Invades the Cowboy State

Unhealthy, smog-filled air has struck an unsuspecting locale: rural Wyoming.

March 12, 2011 - USA Today

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.