Whatcom Transportation Authority Receives Gold Award from Northwest Clean Air Agency

Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA) awarded Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) with a ‘Partners for Clean Air’ Gold Award for 2019.

In order to qualify for a Gold Award, an agency must demonstrate at least three consecutive years of perfect compliance with air quality regulations. Agencies must also employ additional clean air practices in at least two of four categories. These are: energy efficiency, emissions reductions, air pollution prevention, and transportation.

WTA recently implemented the following clean air practices:

Reducing commute trips countywide, by providing 4.5 million bus trips in 2019.
Installing LED lighting and solar panels at several of its facilities.
Working to convert its paratransit minibus fleet from gasoline to propane, and installing a propane fueling station.
Pursuing grant funding for electric buses and charging facilities.

General Manager Pete Stark said, “In addition to being committed to compliance, WTA actively pursues methods to improve energy efficiency and reduce local air pollution. We’re proud to be recognized for these efforts.”

The Northwest Clean Air Agency is responsible for enforcing federal, state and local air quality regulations in Island, Skagit, and Whatcom counties. In addition to permitting and regulating industrial sources of air pollution, the agency provides services and information related to asbestos, indoor air quality, outdoor burning, wood stoves, and fireplaces. More information about the agency is available at www.nwcleanairwa.gov.

We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.