At the start of last week’s California Air Resources Board meeting at the Grand 1401 in downtown Fresno, Alex Sherriffs encouraged his fellow board members to step out onto the 10th floor balcony and take in the majestic view.
Great idea, except for one tiny detail: The snow-capped Sierra Nevadas could barely be seen through the haze and smog — even though it had been only four days since the last storm.
Three hours later, the state air board unanimously approved a plan designed to help the Valley meet four federal health standards for fine particulate matter – called PM2.5s – generated by cars and trucks, industrial equipment, wood burning and dust.