2011 Clean Air Awards

Recognizing Contributions to
Reducing Global Warming and Improving Air Quality

June 30 • Monterey Plaza Hotel • 400 Cannery Row • Monterey, CA

Breathe California Central Coast's 1st annual Clean Air Awards focused on positive initiatives that are being taken to reduce global warming and air pollution.

California is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution and warmer temperatures. Increased temperatures caused by global warming will exacerbate air pollution, increasing the rates of asthma, respiratory and other lung related ailments. It's important to recognize the important work that is being done to combat climate change and reduce air pollution in the business, governmental, educational and non-profit sectors. Our 2011 awards recognized some of those who are leading the way in these important efforts.

2011 Clean Air Award Winners

Climate Change

Brad Hagemann

Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency

MRWPCA has made environmental stewardship a very high priority, recycling valuable resources such as water, power, and biosolids and preventing harmful emissions and discharges whenever possible. They voluntarily utilize process controls, co-generation and solar power generation in their operations reducing regional power consumption and on-site power generation. The use of co-generation and photovoltaic panels alone has reduced power purchases by 80-90%. The agency harvests 100% of the methane gas it produces from the anaerobic digestion of biomass. Ninety five percent (95%) of the methane produced is utilized to generate power for onsite use. Excess power is sent to the power grid. Brad Hagemann, Assistant General Manager accepted the award

Technology

Patrick Mathews

Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority

Utilizing bio-fuels in transfer fleet equipment, solar voltaic system and landfill gas recovery power system, SVSWA has dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. Landfill operations comprise 90% of the authority's emissions. To address this, the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority is leading US solid waste management agencies in reviewing incorporating conversion technologies to process post-recycled waste into high value products and fuel or electricity, leading to a future without landfills. Using these technologies, the authority is projected to significantly reduce air contaminants save up to 65,000 tons of carbon per year. Though only required to achieve a landfill diversion rate of 50% by the year 2000, they have achieved a nearly 70% diversion rate and set a goal to reach 75% diversion by 2015. General Manager, Patrick Mathews accepted the award.

Leadership

Janet Brenann

Janet Brennan

Janet Brennan has been involved in air pollution issues as a volunteer or a professional for almost 40 years. Her efforts are tireless in the pursuit of clean air. As an environmental planner and civic leader, she has educated decision makers and the public on climate change and regional air quality issues and influenced the development of air pollution control policies and interventions that have truly helped improve the air we breathe.

Award winners were recognized at a reception
featuring Keynote Speaker:

Supervisor Jane Parker - County of Monterey, District Four

Supervisor Parker's priorities include responsible land-use policy, equitable healthcare access and high quality healthcare services, water and mass transit solutions, increased accountability and customer service for County services, and an emphasis on preventive policy as it pertains to social and law enforcement issues.

In her first two years as County Supervisor Jane is especially proud that her leadership has resulted in fundamental changes in the culture of County government. Jane has made it a point to understand the perspectives and priorities of her colleagues and work with them to achieve common goals.

Keynote Address:

"Keeping Our Air Clean: Air quality management on the Central Coast"