News & Events

The recently enacted Transportation Bill included a four year grant to OCA in the total amount of $836,000.00, to develop a pilot program for conversion of public fleets to cleaner burning fuels. Details of how the program will operate are still emerging. Check back soon for additional information.

Funded by a generous grant from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, OCA has on on-going public information and education program. In an effort to reach out to college age youth, OCA partnered with California State University at Fresno's Maddy Institute to conduct a series of Air Fairs which featured speakers from across the spectrum of air quality issues, interactive, participatory programs, awards and course extra credit, in four locations in the San Joaquin Valley.

The 2005 Summit, focusing solutions to the air quality situation, will be a major public education event. OCA hopes to outdo the attendance at its inaugural summit which exceeded 400 people. Our list of invitees will include elected officials, fleet operators, business leaders, school officials, health care providers, environmental groups and the general citizenery.

OCA applied for and has received a $200,000.00 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a pilot program to assist in the retro fit or replacement of wood burning stoves and fireplaces in the San Joaquin Valley. The program will be modeled after a wood smoke abatement program in Santa Clara Valley. Homeowners will be able to apply to the program for financial assistance in converting wood burning stoves, inserts and fireplaces to EPA approved devices to reduce wood smoke in the critical Fall and Winter periods in the Valley. For more information, see the wood burning work plan.