History
On August 30, 1967, the Delaware Valley Citizens Council for Clean Air was officially created by the areas 11 Tuberculosis and Health Associations. The Council’s first actions were to partner with the City of Philadelphia in organizing the region’s first Cleaner Air Week celebration and to testify for strong sulfur fuel restrictions in New Jersey.
By 1970, the Council was recognized by the American Heritage Publishing Company as one of the top 12 conservation organizations in the Nation most worthy of public support. That year, the Council also organized a local celebration of the first Earth Day.
In 1975, the Council developed the first regional air quality reporting system called AIRS. This system was regarded as a model air quality index by the Federal government. In 1979, AIRS was merged into the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pollution Standards Index and became the regional disseminator of that information.
By 1982, the Council had made a big splash on the national legal scene by successfully holding Pennsylvania in contempt of its agreement to conduct vehicle emissions inspections. 1982 was also the year Joe Minott began working as the seventh executive director and chief counsel, positions he held until his retirement on December 31, 2023. Also in 1982, the Council held its first Run for Clean Air event, which continued for many years.
In 1991, the Council formally broke ties with its founders, who had merged together into the American Lung Association. The next year, in 1992, the Council celebrated its 25th anniversary with a series of concerts and began a dedicated column in local newspapers.
In 1994, Council moved to Center City Philadelphia and began a concentrated effort to improve residential recycling rates.
In 1998, the Council legally changed its full name to “Clean Air Council” and began a Sustainable Energy Education Program to educate people about their ability to choose cleaner electricity suppliers.
In 2006, the Council began its online advocacy program through a series of e-mailed action alerts. The same year, Philadelphia passed a smoking ban in restaurants and bars, which the Council had been working on since 2000.
The Council celebrated it’s 40th anniversary in 2007. It also assisted in the retrofitting of 83 pieces of port equipment to decrease their diesel emissions.
In 2008, the Council began purchasing solar credits from Community Energy, Inc. to offset its electricity usage. The Council also pushed the Pennsylvania Legislature to pass the Clean Indoor Air Act, banning smoking from public places.
In 2009, the Council joined the 21st century and set up its first social media account. The Council also launched the Idle Free Philly website to track illegal truck idling in the greater Philadelphia area.
The Council successfully pushed for Delaware’s curbside recycling law in 2010. It also intervened in the First Energy Corp-Allegheny Power merger, resulting in a $4 million increase in funding to programs that help low-income users reduce their energy consumption.
The Council took over Greenfest Philly in 2011, the city’s largest environmental festival, and began deploying personal air monitors in Northeast Philadelphia. The Council also sued to stop natural gas fracking company Mark West from drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
In 2012, the Council formed Feet First Philly to provide pedestrian advocacy. It also organized Luzerne County residents to successfully deny a fracking permit for a proposed drill site.
The Council held its first annual Members’ Night event in 2013 and managed a rebate program that led to 30 dry cleaners replacing their PERC equipment with a nontoxic alternative.
In 2014, the Council held its first annual Dine Out of the Environment event. It also formed the Protect our Children campaign to stop natural gas drilling near schools.
In 2015, the Council supported Allegheny County residents in their fight against the Shenango Coke Works plant, which led to its closure. The Council also developed and launched a new green trip-planning website called GoPhillyGo.
The Council opened an office in Pittsburgh in 2016 and installed bike racks in front of stores in Philadelphia. The Council also achieved victory in a SLAPP suit case filed against the Council for stopping a fracking site from being permitted in Middlesex Township.
In 2017, the Council sued the U.S. EPA for trying to delay methane rules and went to court to halt the construction of the Mariner East II pipeline. The Council also celebrated its 50th anniversary.
