CALIFORNIA – Acclima announced June 30 that its vehicles are now collecting block-by-block air quality in 64 pollution-burdened communities as part of California’s Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI).

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) effort aims to better understand and address air quality disparities. 

The program spans 950,000 miles, reaching 5.2 million residents, and delivers 50-100x more data per dollar in 64 communities statewide.

“While the federal government threatens to take us back to the days of smoggy skies and clogged lungs, California continues to lead the way,” said Governor Gavin Newsom in a June 3 press release.

He adds, “We’re deploying first-of-their-kind vehicles to monitor pollution levels at a block-by-block level, delivering critical air quality information to communities across the state.” 

Results will help create local solutions to improve air quality and health

The $27 million pilot funded by California Climate Investments (CCI) uses Cap-and-Trade dollars to cut greenhouse gases, boost the economy, and enhance public health, focusing on disadvantaged communities.

Acclima said the results will help create local solutions to improve air quality and health.

The low emission vehicles, equipped with advanced air sensors, monitor pollution on public streets.

Drivers are hired locally, creating about 100 jobs statewide.

Cars are deployed from 17 statewide hubs (5 North, 4 Central, 8 South) and supported by mobile labs from UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, and Aerodyne researchers.

List of communities

SMMI was shaped by community input, focusing on CCI priority populations, with over 60% of monitoring in areas hit hardest by climate and environmental injustices.

The communities that will be monitored are:

Bay Area Communities

San Francisco County

• Treasure Island – One Treasure Island
• San Francisco – SOMCAN

Alameda County

• San Leandro – San Leandro 2050
• West Berkeley – Just Cities
• Hayward – No Lead (Aclima)
• Greater Oakland – HOPE Collaborative
• Tri-Valley – Tri-Valley Air Quality Climate Alliance

Contra Costa County

• Tri-Valley – Tri-Valley Air Quality Climate Alliance
• Rodeo to parts of Crockett – Our Children’s Earth Foundation (for Rodeo Citizens Association)
• East Contra Costa County – Sustainable Contra Costa

Marin County

• San Rafael – Canal Alliance

Solano County

• Vallejo – Citizen Air Monitoring Network
• Fairfield – Sustainable Solano

Sonoma County

• Santa Rosa – Greenbelt Alliance

Sacramento Communities

Sacramento County

• North Sacramento, Del Paso Heights, Norwood, Old North Sacramento – Sacramento EJC
• South Natomas – Valley Vision
• Florin – Valley Vision
• Oak Park, Fruitridge – Valley Vision
• Meadowview – Valley Vision

San Joaquin Valley Communities

Stanislaus County

• West Stanislaus County – Valley Improvement Projects
• Southwest West Modesto – Valley Improvement Projects
• South Modesto – Valley Improvement Projects

Merced County

• South Merced – Leadership Counsel
• Le Grand – Valley Onward

Fresno County

• Lanare – CCEJN
• Huron, Avenal, and Coalinga – Healthy Fresno Air

Kings County

• Kettleman City – UNIDOS Network

Madera County

• Fairmead – Leadership Counsel
• South Madera – La Vina, Parkwood, Parksdale, Borden, Italian Swiss Colony, Iragose, and Ripperday – Madera Coalition for Community Justice

Tulare County

• South Tulare & Matheny Tract – Leadership Counsel
• Lindsay – Californians for Pesticide Reform

Kern County

• Delano – Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment
• Lost Hills – Clean Water Fund
• Wasco – Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment
• North Bakersfield – Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment

Los Angeles Communities

Los Angeles County

• Compton, Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, Lynwood – Breathe SoCal
• Inglewood, Hawthorne, Westmont, Vermont – Girl Plus Environment
• Paramount, North Long Beach – Breathe SoCal
• Westlake, Korea Town, Mid-city, Mid-Wilshire – Breathe SoCal
• Gardena, Alondra Park, Lawndale – The Niles Foundation
• Pacoima, North Hollywood, Sun Valley, San Fernando, Sylmar – Pacoima Beautiful
• Van Nuys – Pacoima Beautiful
• El Monte, South El Monte, Avocado Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, Bassett – Day One
• Maywood, Commerce, Vernon, Bell – Breathe SoCal
• Torrance – The Niles Foundation

San Bernardino Communities

San Bernardino County

• Bloomington, Fontana, Rialto – Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ)
• Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino – HARC, Inc.
• Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario – HARC, Inc.

Orange County Communities

Orange County

• Buena Park, Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange – Cool OC
• Santa Ana – Climate Action Campaign

Riverside Communities

Riverside County

• Corona, Temescal Valley – HARC, Inc.
• Central and East Riverside, Rubidoux – HARC, Inc.
• Mira Loma, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Pedley – HARC, Inc.
• Chiriaco Summit – HARC, Inc.

Imperial Communities

Imperial County

• Salton City – United for Justice
• Niland, Desert Shores, Salton Sea Beach, Salton Sea, Bombay Beach, Seeley – Los Amigos de la Comunidad

The project will end in June 2026, releasing data and visualization tools to the public.

Final results will be shared with the 64 communities, the general public and CARB.

CARB, local air districts, and community advocates will use the data to tackle pollution problems. The data will also guide future regulations, research and grant applications like the Community Air Grants Program.