I have some great news to share this month — I have recently been appointed to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This appointment brings representation for our city back to this statewide agency that writes and enforces regulations to reduce air pollution, fight climate change, and support the transition to clean energy — often leading the way for the rest of the country. It’s a board whose Southern California headquarters we welcomed to Riverside in 2021, bringing with it a research and vehicle emissions testing facility that has helped us recruit green tech companies to the city like Ohmio, Voltu, Hyundai Rotem, and GreenPower.
So what does CARB even do? CARB is the state agency responsible for protecting public health, welfare, and the environment through effective air pollution control for the entire state. In recent years, this governing body has drafted and approved regulations that advance clean fleets, set carbon fuel standards, and reduce the smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from conventional heavy-duty engines.
CARB sets the big-picture policies and standards for clean air in the state, with particular attention to mobile sources of air pollution like passenger vehicles and diesel trucks. The local air quality districts (AQMDs) are then tasked with implementing and enforcing those air quality rules by issuing permits, conducting inspections, and developing regional plans with a greater focus on stationary sources like factories and warehouses. In addition to my appointment on CARB, I also serve on the board for our local AQMD, South Coast Air Quality Management District, after being voted to the board by other elected officials in Riverside County to represent our region…