Project Clean Air Repair
Region
Leech Lake Nation and MinneapolisTimeline
2017 - presentAudience
Funders and partnersTopics
Through Project Clean Air Repair (or Project CAR), Environmental Initiative creates partnerships with car repair shops to reduce emissions from older passenger vehicles. Project CAR reimburses garages for identifying and fixing vehicle exhaust systems in cars of lower-income residents.
Currently, it is estimated that 25% of passenger vehicles cause 90% of vehicle air pollution. Older cars often have outdated or broken emission controls and exhaust equipment. By partnering with garages to repair broken emissions systems, Environmental Initiative is cleaning up some of the highest polluting cars on the road while reducing barriers to reliable transportation.
Partner garages provide low- or no-cost repairs to emission control systems. This allows car owners to reduce their car’s emissions and prioritize paying for other repairs necessary for the safety and drivability of their car.
Recent accomplishments
420
Cars repaired since 2017.
5
Participating partner garages.
23
Tons of emission reductions achieved.
The value of collaboration
Through our partnership with Cars for Neighbors, we’re making no-cost emission system repairs on vehicles for community members. Thank you to BairStories for collaborating with us to highlight this work.
“The amount of exhaust leaking from my car was very toxic to me, as well as to the environment and likely contributed to my health problems, which meant I was unable to work. This repair will greatly improve my health and hopefully I will be able to recover and get back to work.”
Clean Air Blogs
The EPA plans to tighten air pollution standards, what it means for Minnesota
The U.S. EPA has proposed updated national ambient air quality standards for fine particle pollution, or PM 2.5, for the first time in more than a decade. The stricter standards highlight the importance of Clean Air Minnesota's voluntary emission reduction work to help Minnesota stay in compliance.
Reducing vehicle emissions at no cost to residents
Cars for Neighbors recently hit a big milestone, reducing more than six tons of volatile organic compounds and nitrous oxide emissions by repairing vehicle emission systems.
Local fishing charter reduces emissions through engine upgrades
Reel Action Sport Fishing Charters in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. partnered with Environmental Initiative to upgrade their deep sea fishing boat engines to reduce air pollution and increase fuel efficiency.
Our Experts
Rural and urban communities experience high air pollution from mobile sources such as cars. Expand Project CAR by talking to our experts today about offering financial support for this important clean air effort.
Our Partners
