In early 2010, the California Air Resources Board officially listed Tahoe as violating ozone standards. Local governments are now required to create plans to reduce the gas, which is harmful to people, wildlife and vegetation. Ozone is created in Tahoe when sunlight interacts with summertime car and boat exhaust. The League has been urging policy makers to find ways to bring Tahoe back into compliance when they review all development plans and projects.
Transportation planning is the key to relieving dependence on the private automobile and improving air quality at Tahoe. Air and water quality are integrally linked, as science is showing that dust stirred up by cars travels to the lake and has a significant affect on clarity.
Placer County had proposed a biomass plant at Kings Beach until June 2011 when decision makers realized community opposition was too great. The League joined the community in their concern that the plant would create unacceptable environmental degradation, including air pollution that would exacerbate violations of TRPA and State of California ozone standards. The League was also concerned with air and water pollution associated with the increased trips by large vehicles hauling biomass.
Read our August 2010 comments on the biomass plant.
Homewood Mountain Resort plans to build an all-season resort with hundreds of units along Highway 89, a two-lane road that already experiences significant summertime traffic gridlock. The California side of Tahoe is already violating ozone standards during summer months. The League is monitoring the project closely to seek improvements to address air quality concerns.
