Despite the political rhetoric at the state capitol on the topic, there is one thing Coloradans agree on: we all want clean air. How we get cleaner air, however, has led to policy and legislative warfare on industries and businesses with little regard to actual collaboration and data driven decisions.
For the last several years, Weld County government has invested time, resources, and money into proactively gathering, analyzing, and sharing air quality data so the state legislators can work with local governments and businesses to find practical solutions to improving Colorado’s air. However, much of this work has fallen on deaf ears, and has not been utilized by state agencies when making regulatory decisions and legislative proposals. In the interests of transparency, education, and fostering a robust community conversation on an issue that affects us all, the county has decided to share this information and data directly to the public.
The newly launched air.weld.gov website is full of information about air quality, monitoring, modeling and how Weld County is doing its part to be part of the solution regarding air quality along the entire Front Range. This user-friendly site is designed to provide residents with information, presented in plain language, on the factors that influence air quality.
“The issues impacting air quality in Colorado are varied. From industry to topography, there are many factors that go into why air quality is what it is along the Front Range,” said Weld County Commissioner Chair Kevin Ross. “And while it is important to work together on air-quality improvements, it’s a complex puzzle with lots of pieces that need to fit together. If we are going to tackle air quality issues successfully in this state without regulating ourselves out of business, it’s going to require more collaboration and innovative solutions.”
The new site provides details how decisions regarding air quality are made, including the regulatory frameworks and guidelines that govern air quality standard and how the public can participate in community meetings, provide feedback on air quality plans, and engage in local environmental programs.
The county believes that informed and involved citizens are key to achieving sustainable air quality improvements. Residents are encouraged to visit www.air.weld.gov regularly for updates and to take an active role in the ongoing dialogue about air quality.
