The state of Alaska and Fairbanks North Star Borough have received grants totaling $5.6 million to improve air quality in Fairbanks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA reported the grants will be used to reduce harmful fine-particle air pollution from wood smoke by initiating a woodstove change-out program in the borough in a March 17 news release. Fairbanks reportedly has the fourth highest concentration of fine particulate matter, most often referred to as smog and soot, in the country.
“EPA is pleased to continue its Targeted Airshed Grant funding in support of the community's efforts to reduce wood smoke pollution and improve air quality in the borough,” Michelle Pirzadeh, EPA Region 10 administrator, said.
Public officials in Alaska have reportedly been working hard on improving the air quality in Fairbanks and in other regions of the state, but there is still a lot of work to do, Pirzadeh said in the release.
The grants are expected to help support the changeover of approximately 400 older home heating devices, such as wood and pellet stoves and oil heating appliances. Jason Brune, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, said newer, cleaner-burning stoves create less emissions and help the air to be cleaner.
The program has reportedly been a success so far. Bryce Ward, mayor of the borough, said the program is its most popular approach yet to bringing clean, healthy air to the community.
The grant provided by the EPA will help to keep this program going and have funding for years to come.
