Air

A Clean Air Vision

Since the 1950s, Riverside has been negatively affected by the amount of air pollutants in the air, primarily transported by wind patterns from Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Since the 1980s, Riverside and its community partners have actively and aggressively adopted programs focused on improving air quality through various strategies, including: encouraging use of alternative fuels, promoting increased use of public transit, minimizing commuting times and vehicle idling times, implementing measures to reduce ambient particulate matter, improving the urban forest, and diversifying energy resources.

On November 19, 2002 the Riverside City Council approved a set of proposed strategic actions to make Riverside a Model Clean Air City. An advisory committee was formed of local community and business members, city employees, and other agencies concerned with air quality concerns. The committee meets three times a year to discuss projects funded by the city’s AB 2766 Subvention Funds. These funds are state revenue from vehicle registration monies to be spent on air quality improvement projects.

Some of the projects the City of Riverside has accomplished that exemplify its dedication as a Model Clean Air City include:

Programs & Projects

Be an Urban Forest Hero! Join other volunteers in neighborhood beautification projects. Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful!

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program
  The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program is designed to encourage the purchase of alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles and to increase awareness of the benefits associated with driving a clean and green vehicle.
• City Pass - Riverside is transit-friendly; city employees ride for Free on RTA Clean fuel vehicles.
• Riverside Public Utilities Green Power Program - funds the purchase of renewable energy resources for the City of Riverside.
• Tree planting and other greening projects offer rebates to help reduce the amount of energy needed to cool in the summer.

Green Projects That Help Air Quality

• Biosolids Disposal - By converting biosolids to a renewable, green fuel, which can be used as a substitute for lignite coal.
• Fuel Cell Project - Produces energy with reduced impact to the environment.
• Grease to Gas - By converting restaurant grease wastewater to fuel for the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant the problem of disposal is resolved and the RWQCP saves money.

City Vehicles

• 70% of the city’s fleet vehicles, including pool cars and heavy duty service vehicles, have been converted to clean fuels.
• An alternative fuel station including compressed natural gas (CNG), propane and hydrogen is used to fuel city vehicles and is available to the public.
• Participation in a regional hydrogen vehicle pilot program.
• Inclusion of an air quality element in the City of Riverside General Plan.

Policies & Goals

• Western Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition
  Charter member - an offspring of the Department of Energy (DOE) and coordinated by Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG)
• Clean & Green Task Force
  City Council endorsement of a Sustainable Riverside Policy Statement in conjunction with development of a report on how to become a clean, green, more sustainable city. The result of the excellent work of the Task Force was these simple guidelines: Save Water, Keep it Clean, Make it Solar, Make it Shady, Clean the Air, Save Fuel, Make it Smart, and Build Green.