The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, February 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
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Advisory
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Odor/Flaring Advisory
Valero Refinery in Benicia notified Air District of a planned shutdown of some refinery equipment beginning 1/31. Odors and/or flaring may occur. Air District inspectors will be closely monitoring. Report air quality complaints: 800-334-ODOR or online.
Advisory
Odor/Flaring Advisory
Valero Refinery in Benicia notified Air District of a planned shutdown of some refinery equipment beginning 1/31. Odors and/or flaring may occur. Air District inspectors will be closely monitoring. Report air quality complaints: 800-334-ODOR or online.
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Santa Clara County
Learn about Santa Clara County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in Santa Clara County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.
Latest News
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Air District Board approves new grant program to reinvest penalty funds in impacted communitiesJanuary 29, 2026
The Air District's Board of Directors has approved the grant guidelines for the Local Community Benefits Fund, marking a major milestone for the Bay Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience program, or Bay REPAIR program. The program will begin accepting grant applications on Jan. 29, 2026, opening a new opportunity for community-led projects that reduce air pollution, improve public health and strengthen community resilience in Benicia, Richmond and surrounding communities.
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Air District’s Clean HEET Program now accepting applicationsJanuary 20, 2026
The Air District’s Clean HEET Program is now accepting applications for grants that can help to offset the cost of switching from wood-burning or pellet-burning stoves, fireplace inserts or open-hearth fireplaces to an electric heat pump. A decommission-only option is also available for homeowners to remove existing open-hearth fireplaces or older, uncertified wood-burning stoves or inserts. Switching to an electric heat pump helps improve air quality in communities by replacing polluting wood-burning devices with cleaner heating options.
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The Air District is extending a Spare the Air Alert through Sunday, January 18, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. A Spare the Air Alert remains in effect today, Saturday, January 17.
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Other News Articles
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12/23/2025 Air District has fined Martinez Refining Company and required enhanced air monitoring data transparency
December 23, 2025
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12/2/2025 Air District fines Chevron $900,000 for air monitoring violations
December 2, 2025
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11/25/2025 Spare the Air Alerts issued for Wednesday & Thanksgiving Day due to wood smoke pollution. Use of all wood-burning devices is prohibited.
November 25, 2025
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11/19/2025 Public Comment Deadline – Draft Local Community Benefits Fund Guidelines (Nov 25 at 5 PM)
November 19, 2025
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11/18/2025 Air District launches commercial electric lawn and garden equipment exchange
November 18, 2025
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11/13/2025 Air District highlights Bay Area leadership and global collaboration at COP30
November 13, 2025
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11/5/2025 Air District awards $3 million to deploy new electric vehicle chargers in Richmond
November 5, 2025
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10/28/2025 Air District fines Republic Services $159,000 for landfill gas violations
October 28, 2025
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10/27/2025 Air District issues prescribed burn notice for October 27-31
October 27, 2025
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10/22/2025 Air District awards $5M to electrify special education school buses
October 22, 2025
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10/17/2025 Air District issues prescribed burn notice for October 17 - 24, 2025
October 17, 2025
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10/9/2025 Air District fines Marathon Martinez Refinery $372,550 for violations
October 9, 2025
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10/1/2025 Air District Board adopts wood burning and prescribed burning amendments to protect public health and reduce wildfire risk
October 1, 2025
Santa Clara County is south of the San Francisco Bay, with San Mateo and Alameda counties bordering it to the north, Santa Cruz County to the west, San Benito County to the south, and Stanislaus and Merced counties to the east. Four Santa Clara County representatives sit on the Air District’s Board of Directors.
Climate
During the summer, mostly clear skies result in warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Winter temperatures are mild, except for very cool but generally frost-less mornings.
Further inland where the moderating effect of the bay is not as strong, temperature extremes are greater. Wind patterns are influenced by local terrain, with a northwesterly sea breeze typically developing during the daytime. Winds are usually stronger in the spring and summer. Rainfall amounts are modest, ranging from 13 inches in the lowlands to 20 inches in the hills.
Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map
Air Quality in Santa Clara County
Ozone and fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, are the major regional air pollutants of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ozone is primarily a problem in the summer, and fine particle pollution in the winter.
Most of Santa Clara County is well south of the cooler waters of the San Francisco Bay and far from the cooler marine air which usually reaches across San Mateo County in summer. Ozone frequently forms on hot summer days when the prevailing seasonal northerly winds carry ozone precursors southward across the county, causing health standards to be exceeded.
Santa Clara County experiences many exceedances of the PM2.5 standard each winter. This is due to the high population density, wood smoke, industrial and freeway traffic, and poor wintertime air circulation caused by extensive hills to the east and west that block wind flow into the region.
Spare the Air Status
Last Updated: 4/21/2017