In the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report, Fairfield received an F-rating for Ozone and C-rating for particle pollution. Air quality is particularly bad during the summer months, driven in large part by wind-borne pollutants from coal, oil, and natural gas-burning power plants in the South and Midwest USA that are brought to us via the jet stream that comes from the south and west of us.
The Environmental Protection Agency has flagged Connecticut as “at risk” for not meeting its air quality standards for 2025 and is currently not even meeting 2008 standards! Poor air quality is largely driven by ground level ozone and fine particulates, which exacerbate asthma and other lung diseases, cardiac disease, among others.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) regularly monitors air quality around the state, and while air quality is much better than in the 1980s, we are still seeing many unhealthy days during the summer. In 2018, when we wrote our first Sustainability Plan, Connecticut had 21 days that exceeded safety limits but for 2023 we had only 19. Hopefully this positive trend will continue.
On a positive note, the coal-burning power plant in Bridgeport is funded for demolition.
Achievements to Date
- The Town offers a tree-planting program to help residents enhance the beauty of their property and create shaded streets that enhance air quality and property values
- The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee worked with the Town to develop a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, creating a network of bike/walking paths to encourage less auto traffic and reduce emissions
- In 2023, Fairfield passed a Safe Streets for All Ordinance, which promotes safe walking and biking
- In 2024, Fairfield implemented the first year of their four-year sidewalk improvement plan
- 2024 HeatSmart and PowerSmart campaigns, including energy efficiency audits
- UI/Municipal Electric Vehicle Readiness Study completed December 2019
- Expanding electric vehicle ownership in Fairfield, reducing emissions
Challenges Ahead
- Raising awareness about air quality and relationship to health
- Although Fairfield currently has a policy that aims to “preserve, protect, and improve the air resources of the Town,” it does not have a specific air quality action plan. Other municipalities have plans in place that can serve as guides to design a plan and help improve Fairfield’s air quality programs.
Benefits of an Air Quality Plan
- Such a plan would provide a healthier environment, particularly important for children and those suffering from asthma and other lung problems.
- An indirect benefit would be the reduction of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.
DEEP Air Quality Index Levels
2030 Plan Goals
- Communication plan on specific actions for residents to improve air quality such as more efficient use of automobiles and rethinking home thermostat settings
- Provide education about and enforcement of State’s “no idle” policy for cars, commercial vehicles and Town vehicles including school buses (i.e., a vehicle may not operate for more than 3 consecutive minutes when not in motion except in specifically exempted circumstances), and post 10 “No Idle” signs at strategic locations
- Convert, on average, 10 of the Town’s fleet of school buses from diesel to electric power every year starting in 2025
- Fast-charging EV stations for cars and trucks at our rest stops
- Workplace charging at 50% of Fairfield businesses
- Two thousand total Fairfield EV registrations
- Full implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
- Review gas-powered lawn equipment, especially two-stroke engines often used in gas-powered leaf blowers
How Do We Reach Our Goals?
- Work with the Department of Health to develop an air quality plan
- Continue annual Drive Electric Earth Day event to encourage EV ownership
- Work with the Town to fully “electrify” its municipal fleet and school buses
- Work with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to fully implement an updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
- Promote EV workplace charging stations for the Town and local businesses