About
The Clean Air Action display and promotional items at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The display rotates throughout many city, township, and village offices, bus stations and local libraries in West Michigan as well during the spring and summer.
It all started when...
The West Michigan Clean Air Coalition was formed in 1995 in order to present a unified voice for cleaner air, regardless of individual reasons for doing so. It was agreed there were many good reasons to promote cleaner air in West Michigan. Some groups were concerned about the health effects of ozone pollution, while others were hoping that cleaner air would result in the lifting of federal reporting requirements or the avoidance of costly sanctions.
Due to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, West Michigan was faced with a number of mandatory pollution control measures. The most ominous was a costly vehicle inspection/maintenance program that was delayed by Governor Engler just before it was to be implemented. Other measures included restrictions on industrial expansion and new construction. The hope was that voluntary emission reduction activities could be used in place of the mandates, effectively entrusting the situation to the local communities.
Due to its location, West Michigan often receives transport air pollution from downwind locations like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Gary, IN. This makes it even more important for West Michigan residents and businesses to help combat our own localized emissions to protect the environment and public health. By taking part in a voluntary emission reduction activity like walking, riding a bike, and telecommuting. You can help make a positive difference in our air quality and often save yourself time and money in the process.
To this end, the goal of the West Michigan Clean Air Coalition through its former Ozone Action! Program, now the Clean Air Action Program, was to educate the public about ozone problems and help reduce West Michigan ground-level ozone through voluntary emission reduction activities. Since 1995, the Coalition has been bringing the public and business, education, government, and non-profit groups together to achieve cleaner air.