North Carolina has cleanest air in decades

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

From the Environment News Service:

RALEIGH, North Carolina, October 5, 2009 (ENS) – North Carolina’s smog levels this year are the lowest since the state began monitoring air quality in the 1970s, due to weather patterns and declining emissions from industry and motor vehicles, according to data compiled by the state Division of Air Quality and made public today.

Through September 30, the end of the ozone forecast season, North Carolina had only six days in 2009 when ozone levels exceeded the eight-hour standard of 0.075 parts per million.

The previous lowest year was 2004, when 27 days exceeded the same standard for ozone levels.

Since 2000, there have been an average of 51 days per year when the ozone levels exceeded the standard.

“We are encouraged by the drop in ozone levels,” said Keith Overcash, director of the Division of Air Quality. “North Carolina has strong air quality initiatives in place, but there is still more to do. Citizens are also helping by taking actions to reduce air pollution, such as driving less, carpooling and conserving energy.”
This power station on North Carolina’s Belews Lake consistently ranks among the most efficient coal-fired facilities in the United States. (Photo by Massey Energy)

Ozone levels have declined substantially across North Carolina during the past decade, due in part to lower emissions from coal-fired power plants, other industry and motor vehicles, says Overcash.

From 1999 to 2008, annual ozone-forming emissions from North Carolina power plants declined by 73 percent – from 201,428 tons to 54,398 tons – state data shows.