Today is the third day of Air Quality Awareness Week. Vehicle emissions are the largest source of air pollution in the Monterey Bay Area. Vehicle pollutants harm our health and contain greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Burning gasoline and diesel fuel creates harmful byproducts like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, and formaldehyde. In addition, vehicles emit carbon dioxide, the most common human-caused greenhouse gas.

The good news is that you can reduce pollution from motor vehicles. Driving the cleanest vehicle you can afford and making everyday choices to drive less and drive smarter can make a big difference.

Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) administers a wide variety of grant programs to incentivize projects that clean our air and reduce health impacts in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. Funding is primarily focused on mobile source projects that reduce or eliminate pollution from cars, trucks, marine vessels, agricultural equipment, construction equipment and for projects that encourage the use of low emissions or zero emissions transportation such as vanpools and electric vehicle replacements. 

Download the full press release to learn about MBARD grant incentives and how you can help reduce air pollution from motor vehicles.