Neighbors for Clean Air

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Neighbors for Clean Air

Neighbors for Clean Air works to ensure that every Oregonian has clean and healthy air to breathe.

Neighbors of Clean Air was initially founded in 2009 by parents and neighbors in Portland Oregon to advocate for cleaner air in Northwest Portland after reading USA Today’s story “The Smokestack Effect.” USA Today investigated the impacts of industrial sources of hazardous air pollutants on schools. It was based on a study, conducted by researchers and scientists from University of Massachusetts

– Amherst, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Maryland, and showed many schools in the Portland Metro area ranked in the bottom 10% of all schools in the nation. Chapman Elementary, located in Northwest Portland, ranked in the bottom 2% of schools around the nation for the impact due to industrial sources of hazardous air pollution. Neighbors for Clean Air’s first campaign was focused on the most visible industrial polluter, ESCO Corporation, and the organization successfully convinced the company to significantly reduce the hazardous air pollution coming into the neighborhood. Since the historic agreement with ESCO, Neighbors for Clean Air has expanded its mission and now works with communities throughout Oregon. The organization works hard to reduce the public health impacts by reducing toxic air contaminants from all sources in the state: industrial, trucks and automobiles, construction equipment and lawn equipment, to name just a few. Thanks to dedicated community advocacy, in the last three years alone, since a science based ground breaking innovative study using moss to measure and identify air pollution, Oregon has experienced unprecedented progress in the work to improve air quality. These three years have reversed decades of neglect and ignorance in the face of significant air quality concerns in our neighborhoods. Since that study broke in Feb 2016, Oregon has overhauled its Air permitting program to be health-based, has finally implemented a program to eliminate dirty diesel school buses in the state, has seen the largest increase in Oregon DEQ’s air budget ever, and our state became only the 2nd in the country to establish in use Diesel engine standards.

06/18/2026

⚡ Data Centers in Oregon: Electricity Demand, Climate Impacts, and Air & Noise Pollution⚡
📅 Wednesday, June 24
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM PT
🔗 Link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/68s_9B_ETjGGIvkKSW-3Og #/registration

Data centers are driving unprecedented growth in electricity demand across Oregon, raising concerns about rising energy costs, climate goals, and impacts on local communities.

We’re happy to be a co-host for the 3rd *Data Centers in Oregon* webinar series. Tune in to learn about:

⚡ The impacts of data centers’ growing electricity demand on Oregon communities, climate goals, and energy costs
⚡ What the 2025 POWER Act does to protect ratepayers
⚡ The air and noise pollution associated with data centers
⚡ Additional policies needed to keep Oregon on track to meet its climate goals
⚡ Practical steps people can take to get involved
Featuring Pat DeLaquil, PhD, Cole Souder, Mackenzie Springer, and Catherine Thomasson, MD.

Co-hosted by MCAT Oregon Democrats - Environmental Caucus Tax Fairness Oregon, and

06/15/2026

Do you live near a landfill or incinerator and want to know more about what you can do about it?

Then join Neighbors for Clean Air, Beyond Toxics and Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC) at the 2026 Waste and Landfill Summit to share stories, hear from experts, and talk about local and statewide priorities.

Summit is on Thursday June 25th from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm in Portland. Lunch will also be provided.

Learn more and RSVP via the QR code in the image! And please contact Kai at [email protected] if you have any questions.

06/03/2026

We had a great meeting yesterday educating Councilor Olivia Clark on the importance of a local disposal option for Portland Harbor Superfund sediment.

Now it's your turn! Click the link below to send a message to the Mayor, City Councilors and the Governor that you support the idea to save taxpayers money (and reduce air emissions) by disposing of the Superfund waste at Ross Island!

https://www.congressweb.com/neighborsforcleanair/takeaction/oneaction/lettergroupid/1/

05/25/2026

Neighbors for Clean Air is thrilled to be presenting at the Toxic Roots Conference on June 4! 130 spots are already taken, but there's still time to reserve yours!

Together, we will explore the legacy of the microchip industry, discuss its impact in our own backyard, and plant the seeds for a more equitable and sustainable future.

https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/toxicrootsconference

05/24/2026

We're just over 2 months away from our 5th annual Camp AQ, and we couldn't be more excited! 20+ students aged 13-17 will join us for a four-day experience learning the ins and outs of environmental justice, community organizing, air advocacy and more!

Camp is August 3 - 6, 9am - 4pm each day. Students receive a $100 educational stipend to support their learning.

Learn more and sign up here:

https://neighborsforcleanair.org/campaq/

05/22/2026

Tell Portland leaders to choose Ross Island for Portland Harbor Superfund sediment to reduce air emissions, save taxpayers money and protect communities outside of Portland from our Superfund pollution.

Read more and urge city and state elected officials to change course.

https://www.congressweb.com/neighborsforcleanair/takeaction/oneaction/lettergroupid/1/

05/20/2026

Tomorrow (05/21) at 9am: Make your voice heard and speak up for clean air!

Oregon DEQ is considering an update to the toxicity reference value (TRV) for diesel. Diesel is a known human carcinogen and this update will help strengthen regulations and emissions to better protect public health.

Join and comment via Zoom here: https://kearnswest.zoom.us/j/84837392859

05/19/2026

NCA is Hiring!

We are growing our team and seeking someone to share their fiscal chops and administrative talents with NCA as our new Finance & Operations Manager!

Position description and how to apply below, with applications being reviewed the week of June 15 and an anticipated start date of July 15.

https://neighborsforcleanair.org/nowhiring/

05/18/2026

Check out this great Op-ed from Sunday's The Oregonian by NCA's Mary Peveto, Verde's Cheyenne Holliday and Mike Houck from Urban Greenspaces Institute!

In it they highlight why disposing of Portland Harbor Superfund sediment at Ross Island could both save the island AND Portland ratepayers money.

And after you read their message, send your own to the Mayor and Portland City Council urging them to consider a local disposal option (action link in article and comments)!

There is a better alternative to the current plan for cleaning up the Portland Harbor Superfund site, the authors write. Rather than ship 200,000 truckloads of sediment to various landfills, using some of the non-hazardous sediment to help fill in the Ross Island lagoon would help address two longst...

05/15/2026

For too many Oregon families, air pollution is an everyday reality. From Portland to rural communities, pollution hotspots are putting our most vulnerable neighbors at risk – and the biggest culprit? Diesel exhaust. ⁠
⁠
Join the movement to improve Oregon's air quality and ditch - link in bio to join our mailing list 📩

Address

17805 SE Stark St
Portland, OR
97233

Website

http://www.neighborsforcleanair.org/

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