Nominations Now Accepted for Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award

By Jay Hipps, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

One of the things that makes the Tri-Valley a wonderful place to live and work is its natural resources, including abundant fresh air. There is a reason that these resources remain, however - people work together to see to their long-term care. For those individuals, businesses, and organizations who have made significant contributions to maintaining and even improving air quality in the region, nominations are currently being accepted for the Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award.

The Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award is being promoted by the Tri-Valley Spare the Air Resource Team, comprised of representatives from Tri-Valley cities, Alameda County, local businesses and business parks, transit agencies and 511.org. The Spare the Air Resource Team is part of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's community engagement effort.

"Air quality is a serious concern of residents in the Tri-Valley. Over the years, Tri-Valley residents, businesses, schools and others have developed a range of innovative efforts to minimize local impacts to local air quality," says Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. "The Air Quality Impact Award - AQIA - is an opportunity to recognize these efforts. This award is especially timely as Spare the Air celebrates its 25th season this summer."

The Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations making strides to improve local air quality through innovative projects and programs such as reducing vehicle idling around schools, encouraging employees to carpool to work, among others.

A strong nominee will: - Be innovative - Demonstrate a measurable improvement that benefits air quality in the Tri-Valley - Provide a solution that can be replicated - Go above and beyond to make a difference!

The top nominees will be interviewed to learn more about their clean air efforts. Award winners, who will receive a trophy and recognition at a meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, will be announced in late summer.

Nominations for the Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award can be submitted until May 31 using an online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/r/AQIA2016.

In addition to the award, the Tri-Valley Spare the Air Resource Team is also sponsoring Idle Free Tri-Valley, which encourages drivers to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by turning off their car's engine when it is parked or not in use. To date, over 1,500 parents, teachers, friends, and family members have already signed the Idle-Free pledge, which is available online at www.idlefreetrivalley.org. Those signing the pledge will be entered into a monthly prize drawing.

For additional information on the Tri-Valley Air Quality Impact Award, email Stephanie Anderson at sanderson@communityfocus.org. For more information about the Tri-Valley Spare the Air Resource Team please visit www.sparetheair.org/get-involved/your-community/resource-teams/tri-valley.

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