Election season is here, and one of the many pledges from a few candidates is to get rid of the California Air Resources Board, or CARB. We know they tax every gallon of gas sold in California, but why? And what would happen if there suddenly was no Air Resources Board? <\/p>\n
The California Air Resources Board was created in 1967 by Governor Ronald Reagan to create and maintain healthy air quality. California has a unique topographic and meteorological situation that makes us especially prone to lingering bad air quality, so we have to work extra hard to maintain even moderate air quality. The Sierra Nevada to the east act as a big brick wall that prevents good ventilation of bad air, so most of the bad air quality made in California stays in California. Contrast that with Kansas, or Ohio, or Florida. There is virtually nothing to block air flowing to the east, which takes any pollution made in Kansas, Ohio or Florida and pushes it east… and far away.<\/p>\n
Summertime just about always means sunshine and high pressure for the Golden State. Upper level High pressure acts to force air to the surface, so the pollution can’t climb the Sierra, and can’t go around… so, it just sits. Like grandpa after a big lunch – it ain’t going anywhere.<\/p>\n
So, California has a real need for cleaner burning gas, Low Emission (or Zero Emission) vehicles, and cleaner harbor craft among other items, to help our air quality. The net result is about a $0.40 tax per gallon of gas sold in California. The average Californian uses about 14 gallons of gas per week (some use more, some use less – 14 gallons is the average per driver), which breaks down to about $6 per week, or about $25 per month.<\/p>\n
Is it helping? Consider this: in 1990, there were about 16 million drivers in California. Now, there are about 28 million drivers – yet Ozone levels have decreased statewide. We’ve almost doubled the number of drivers, yet our air quality has improved. Scroll down here to see how Ozone has improved<\/a> in the past 30 years. COPD rates have dropped significantly<\/a> in the past 25 years.<\/p>\n How bad is bad air quality for you? Despite all these efforts, the San Joaquin Valley still has very high PM 2.5 levels. PM 2.5 are microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns – small enough, that when breathed in, they can lodge in your lungs or other parts of your body. PM 2.5 can be dust or dirt, but can also be toxic substances, like ammonia or mercury. Fresno County has the 5th worst PM 2.5 levels in the U.S. – the San Joaquin Valley overall has terrible PM 2.5 pollution – and Fresno has the 2nd highest asthma rate in California<\/a>. Long exposure to high levels of PM 2.5 directly leads to higher asthma rates. The only county with a higher asthma rate in California? Merced – also in the San Joaquin Valley.<\/p>\n