Environment New WA program aims to curb air pollution in parts of state most affected by it

Communities in Washington hit hardest by climate change may soon get state funding to improve air quality.

Washington’s Department of Ecology is launching a new grant program this week to fund local projects in communities it has determined are historically “overburdened” by air pollution. The $10 million for the grants comes from auction proceeds from the state’s Climate Commitment Act.

The goal is to help fund community-based projects to reduce air pollution. Examples include subsidizing the replacement of residential wood stoves with heat pumps or incentivizing farmers to use methods that reduce dust from agricultural activities.

“This really requires communities to work with their people to design a project and elevate voices to change sources of air pollution,” said Kaitlyn Kelly, Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Community Grant unit supervisor at Ecology. “These are communities that are historically overburdened with health and social and environmental inequities.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/27/new-wa-program-aims-to-curb-air-pollution-in-parts-of-state-most-affected-by-it/