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The State of the Air in 2024? Not Great

Union of Concerned Scientists

Since its inception, the report has effectively heightened the awareness of some hazardous air pollutants, and engaged the public, media, advocates, and policymakers in the ongoing fight against air pollution. The air quality for this report was calculated using data reviewed by EPA from 2020, 2021, and 2022.

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Dear Maryland: It’s Time to Drive Clean Trucks and Buses

Union of Concerned Scientists

Much of this air pollution comes from diesel trucks rumbling along the state’s many highway corridors, in particular I-95 which connects many major cities along the East Coast. This all makes Maryland one of the deadliest states for diesel particulate pollution. The benefits of these rules are sure to touch many of our lives.

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A 100% Renewable Energy Future is Possible, and We Need It

Union of Concerned Scientists

And we’re still trying to recover from a pandemic that has made even more clear the disproportionate impacts of air pollution on overburdened communities, making them even more vulnerable to the negative impacts of COVID 19. We found that, in our “100% RES” scenario, coal generation essentially disappears by 2040 in USCA states.

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Reliance on Gas Power Plants Fuels Inequity

Union of Concerned Scientists

These plants, which were originally slated to close in 2020, include the Ormond Beach Generating Station located in the predominantly Latinx, low-income community of Oxnard. Air pollution Gas-fueled power plants and compressor stations release emissions that pollute local air and have dangerous health impacts to nearby residents.

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Changes to California’s Electric Truck Proposal Could Reap Huge Climate and Air Quality Gains

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule has the potential to significantly reduce climate-warming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as harmful air pollutants like fine particulates (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the numerous commercial and government fleets of MHD vehicles in the state.

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Ask a Scientist: UCS Transportation Program Adds Equitable Mobility to its Portfolio

Union of Concerned Scientists

In 1963, a typical car—which ran on leaded gasoline without pollution control devices— emitted 520 pounds of hydrocarbons, 1,700 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 90 pounds of nitrogen oxide every 10,000 miles traveled. Even so, cars and trucks are still making us sick—and killing us. Transit agencies in Washington, D.C.,

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State Air Regulations Can Go Above and Beyond National Standards 

Legal Planet

States and local air quality regulators have the legal authority to set particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions standards and adopt regulations for these pollutants when they are already in attainment of the national ambient air quality standards ( NAAQS ) set by the U.S.