Category Archives: News
District Seeking RFQs for Air Filtration Units
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District is currently seeking proposals for bulk-purchase pricing on portable indoor air filtration units. Proposers who submit a response to the Request for Qualifications must have the ability to meet the requirements, including the terms and conditions contained in the RFQ.
The units will be used for the District’s Residential Air Filtration Program, which makes air filtration units and replacement filters available to households located within District’s boundaries, particularly in state-designated disadvantaged communities. The District’s Board of Directors has allocated $130,000 for the purchase of these units. This initiative supports our continued commitment to protecting human health and property from the harmful effects of air pollution.
Air Aware Spring 2025 Edition is Out!
Calling All Student Artists for the 2025 Clean Air Calendar Art Contest!
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District’s 2025 Clean Air Calendar Art Contest has begun! The contest, running from March 17 – April 25, is a fun opportunity for young artists to showcase their talent while promoting the importance of clean air for our community.
The Clean Air Calendar Art Contest invites K-12 students within the Air District (all of Yolo County and northeast Solano County – Dixon, Rio Vista and Vacaville) to create original artwork that highlights the significance of clean air and its impact on our health and environment. The theme this year is “Why is Clean Air Important to You?” We will select first, second and third place winners in each of the following grade categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Winners will receive Amazon gift cards ($30 for first place and $25 for second and thirs places) and be featured in the 2026 Clean Air Calendar, which will be distributed throughout the community.
Contest Details:
- Free, and open to all K-12 students who live in or attend school within the District boundary (Yolo County and the cities of Dixon, Rio Vista, and Vacaville)
- Artwork must be submitted with a completed entry form (Clean Air Contest Entry Form or Formulario de Participacion en el Concurso de Arte del Aire Limpio) by 4 p.m. April 25, 2025
- Entries can be submitted via email as high-quality images (300 dpi as .jpeg or .png) to ArtContest@ysaqmd.org
- Entries may also be mailed or delivered to: Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District Offices, attn: Clean Air Art Contest, 1947 Galileo Court, Suite 103, Davis, CA 95618
- Drawings must be student’s own original artwork, and will not be returned
- Please DO NOT FOLD OR STAPLE your drawing
- Bilingual entries are encouraged
Applications Now Open for District’s Clean Air Funds, 2025 Solicitation
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District is now accepting applications for nearly $3 million in funding to reduce emissions across the region. Through the District’s Clean Air Funds program and its 2025 Solicitation for grant funding, financial support is available for projects focused on clean vehicle upgrades, alternative transportation, and public education.
Funding will be available at various levels for projects in four qualifying categories:
- Clean Vehicle Technology (including on-road heavy-duty vehicle upgrades, off-road equipment replacements, and charging infrastructure installation)
- Alternative Transportation
- Transit Services
- Public Education
Private companies, government agencies, and community organizations are encouraged to apply.
Applications for Clean Air Funds are available here. There is $439,000 available for projects in the District. The application deadline for Clean Air Funds projects is 4 p.m. April 18.
Applications for the 2025 Solicitation for grant funding are available here. The District has more than $2.3 million available in funding for the 2025 Solicitation through the Carl Moyer, Community Air Protection (CAP) Incentives, Targeted Airshed Grant (TAG), and AB 923 Programs. The application deadline for the 2025 Solicitation is 4 p.m. May 2.
To help potential applicants navigate the process, District staff will host an informational webinar at 10 a.m. March 26 via Zoom. The session will offer a comprehensive overview of the available grants and the application process, as well as answer any questions. Participants are required to register to attend the webinar.
For those who cannot attend, webinar slides and recorded presentation will be available afterward on the District website.
Questions? Email grants@ysaqmd.org or call (530) 757-3539.
New Tractor and Bus Showcase District Air Grants in Action
Recently, the staff at Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District had the chance to see some exciting grant-funded projects firsthand—the UC Davis Student Farm’s first electric tractor and the Winters Joint Unified School District’s latest electric school bus!
The impressive electric tractor, complete with a backup camera and touchscreen controls, is helping to reduce emissions on the farm. It’s already hard at work in the Student Farm’s research fields and specialty crop beds, performing tasks such as mowing, hauling, discing, and trailering.
The District helped fund the electric tractor through our grant programs. Electric vehicles, like this tractor, are essential for improving air quality by reducing harmful emissions from traditional gas-powered machinery. With cleaner agricultural equipment, we’re helping create better air quality for the community and the planet.
In addition, Yolo-Solano Air Quality awarded $130,000 to Winters school district to help purchase their new electric school bus through our Clean School Bus Program. This program is funded by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles, which collects $2 for each vehicle registered within the District’s boundaries.
“The kids love it,” says Paul Pinedo, WJUSD Transportation Manager. “They’re excited.”
Our Clean School Bus Program is one of many programs that we offer to improve air quality and protect public health in our community. Diesel school buses emit fine particulates and other pollutants that pose a health risk, particularly to children. Electric school buses significantly improve air quality, and provide students a smoother, quieter ride.
To learn more about our grant programs and how they help improve air quality, visit: YSQAMD Incentives
Air District Releases 2024 Annual Report
The 2024 Annual Report provides an overview to the public on District activities and programs, local air quality issues, budgeting and accounting practices, and highlights work completed during the last year to protect health and improve air quality within the District. This comprehensive document not only encapsulates the district’s endeavors over the past year but also sets a promising trajectory for the future of air quality management in the region.
In 2024, the District continued to work toward meeting and maintaining federal air quality health standards through adopting and enforcing air quality programs and plans, maintaining air monitoring networks, and administering air quality grant programs. The District is pleased to report that it will be submitting a clean data finding to the Environmental Protection Agency for the 2008 Federal Ozone Standard as part of the Sacramento Federal Ozone Nonattainment Area, putting the region on track to meet its attainment deadline of midyear 2025.
The District also undertook an ambitious effort to increase grant program investment in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The District expanded outreach efforts by attending events within these communities, working with local businesses and public agencies to promote grant programs, and using social media to spread the word about new opportunities. Notably, the District awarded more than $1.8 million in grant funding to a variety of projects located within low-income and disadvantaged communities, including tractor replacements, EV charging installation, residential heat pump voucher incentives, and lawn and garden equipment replacements. These incentive efforts are vital for improving air quality in the communities most impacted by the harmful effects of air pollution.
Submit Your Annual Throughput Reports
For every Permit to Operate (PTO), facilities are required to submit an annual throughput form that identifies the level of production for that permitted process. This information is compiled by the District to quantify actual emissions from each of the permitted sources, and then the District develops an emissions inventory which is reported annually to the California Air Resources Board.
The District doesn’t mail Throughput Forms. Instead, they are provided electronically. All throughput forms are now available on a searchable online database where forms for all active permits can be downloaded in PDF format. Forms can be searched by entering the permit number (P-XX-XX), physical address associated with the permit, the company name, or the facility ID number. All of this information can be located on the Permit to Operate. The forms have also been emailed to each facility’s responsible contact and are also available by clicking the link FIND YOUR FORM below.
Click the link INSTRUCTIONS for guidance on completing the Throughput Forms. The forms are due by March 31, 2025. Please note electronic or digital signatures are accepted.
Permit holders who fail to submit the requested information may have their PTOs revoked. Operating without a permit is a violation of District rules and state law and involves serious penalties.
Please submit your throughput report(s) by e-mail to the District at throughput@ysaqmd.org (best option) or via mail or fax (530-757-3670).
If you have questions, need assistance, or would like the District to send you a blank Throughput Report form specific to your permit(s), please send an e-mail request with your permit number(s) to throughput@ysaqmd.org.
If you need to speak with someone, please call the District at (530) 757-3650.
Get Warm for the Winter: District Announces New Heat Pump Incentive Program
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (District) is pleased to introduce the new Heat Pump Replacement Voucher Program, designed to help local residents transition from uncertified woodstoves and open-hearth fireplaces to energy-efficient electric heat pumps. This program offers financial incentives to support the switch, which will reduce smoke emissions from homes that rely on wood-burning devices during the winter months.
Through the program, qualifying applicants can receive vouchers covering up to 100% of the cost of a new electric heat pump. Standard incentives are set at $5,000, while eligible applicants can qualify for an enhanced incentive of $10,000. To participate, applicants must currently use an uncertified, operational wood-burning stove or open-hearth fireplace as their primary source of heat. Households may qualify for the Enhanced incentive if they meet low-income requirements, participate in a low-income program, or are located in a state-designated priority area.
More information on eligible equipment, maximum voucher amounts, and Enhanced Incentive Eligibility can be found on the District’s website at https://www.ysaqmd.org/incentives/wood-smoke-reduction-program/. For questions about the Heat Pump Replacement Voucher Program, contact the District by phone at (530) 757-3650 or email grants@ysaqmd.org.
District and Esparto Unified School District Unveil Four Zero-Emission School Buses
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (Air District) is thrilled to announce the unveiling of four new zero-emission electric school buses for the Esparto Unified School District. These buses represent a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve air quality and protect public health in our community.
The replacement of four outdated diesel-powered school buses with zero-emission electric models was made possible through several Air District grants and incentive programs. These include the AB 923 Program, the Carl Moyer Program, and the U.S. EPA Targeted Airshed Grant (TAG) Program. Overall, Esparto USD was awarded nearly $1.1 million from these three programs for the four zero-emission school buses.
The benefits to the community are substantial. Diesel school buses emit fine particulates and other pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant. Diesel exhaust from idling school buses can accumulate around the buses and pose a health risk, particularly to children. When buses idle in drop-off zones, the exhaust can also pollute the air inside school buildings, affecting children’s health throughout the day. Prolonged exposure to ozone can lead to serious health impacts, similar to giving your lungs a sunburn. By replacing diesel school buses with electric vehicles, all tailpipe emissions are eliminated, thereby significantly improving air quality.
The Mat Ehrhardt Bike Lane Opens to the Public
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District is proud to announce the dedication of a new bike lane to honor the late Mat Ehrhardt, who served the Air District with distinction for over two decades. The Mat Ehrhardt Bike Lane is located on a 2.5-mile section of Pedrick Road just south of the Pedrick Road Bridge. This significant addition to the active transportation network in the region was constructed by Solano County Resource Management with assistance from the Air District’s Clean Air Funds.
On Thursday, July 18th, a dedication event was held to commemorate the new bike lane. Mat Ehrhardt’s family, the Air District Board of Directors and staff, along with other local officials, gathered to honor his legacy. During the event, the sign for the Mat Ehrhardt Bike Lane was unveiled to the public. Mat Ehrhardt’s family participated in the unveiling and expressed their gratitude to the community for honoring his legacy and dedication to improving air quality.
“I had the honor of working alongside Mat for over twenty years,” said Paul Hensleigh, the Air District’s Deputy APCO. “He would have been embarrassed by this dedication, but this road sign will serve as a lasting reminder to the residents of Solano and Yolo Counties that there are people who tirelessly advocate for improving our quality of life. Mat was a strong advocate for better air quality, not only through regulation but also by promoting bicycling, one of the many outdoor activities he cherished.”
Mat Ehrhardt joined the Air District in 1997 as an Associate Air Quality Engineer. He quickly advanced, becoming a Supervising Air Quality Engineer in 2000 and the Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer just two years later. In 2005, he was appointed Executive Director of the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, a position he held with distinction until his passing in late 2022.
The newly unveiled Mat Ehrhardt Bike Lane is now open to the public and stands as a lasting tribute to Ehrhardt’s commitment to clean air and active transportation. The Air District is proud to honor his memory and his significant contributions to air quality management and community health.
