After four years of construction and a decade of planning, CARB (California Air Resource Board) will open the doors to their new facility in Riverside. The new facilities will expand CARB’s vehicle emission testing capabilities and provide vital, advanced equipment for air quality and climate change research. The facility’s close proximity to the University of California Riverside’s (UCR’s) campus also creates new opportunities for CARB and UCR to invest in cooperative environmental programs.
Since 1967, CARB has spearheaded California’s efforts to address air pollution and climate change. Prior to the creation of CARB, California had some of the worst air quality in the country. Sunny weather combined with a booming population reliant on cars for transportation created permanent smog clouds over densely populated areas like the LA basin. The need for air quality reforms at the state and federal level eventually resulted in the 1967 Federal Air Quality Act and subsequent 1970 Clean Air Act. Around the same time, California merged the previous air pollution control boards into one organization, now called the California Air Resource Control Board. Empowered by the recent legislative changes, the members appointed to CARB became responsible for safeguarding public health and air quality. Today, the sixteen members are appointed by the Governor, state Senate, or state Assembly. Members represent districts and environmental groups from across California, and they work with a team of scientists, economists, lawyers, engineers, and policy makers to create statewide environmental programs and clean air initiatives.
One of the organization’s key responsibilities involves setting state air quality standards and verifying automaker’s compliance with emissions regulations. The Haagen-Smit Laboratory in El Monte, established in 1972, was the heart of CARB vehicle emissions testing and research. But with next-generation vehicles hitting the roads and more cars piling onto the freeways, CARB needed to expand and modernize their operations to match California’s growing population.
The new facilities in Riverside are immense, totaling 380,000 square feet of glittering glass walls and sweeping modern construction. But the designers considered more than just the aesthetic; every inch of the facility boasts the latest in sophisticated green architecture. CARB’s new headquarters are built to LEED Platinum and CalGreen Tier 2 standards--the highest levels in California. The roofs are covered in solar photovoltaic panels that produce over 3.5 megawatts of electricity; enough electric power to make this facility the largest zero-net energy structure (or structure that produces as much energy as it uses) in the nation. The grounds contain native, drought-resistant flora and advanced water conservation features. Guest and staff parking lots include over 120 electric charging stations and a public DC fast-charge location.
The budget didn’t just go to the architecture; CARB allocated 108 million dollars to specialized laboratory and testing equipment. Highlights for the new facility’s testing capabilities include a state-of-the-art chemistry laboratory, expanded room for a range of dedicated test cells, and additional space for enhanced onboard diagnostics and portable emissions measurement system development. The building will also have new office and administrative spaces, a formal reception area, a media center, a 250-person auditorium, and additional conference rooms.
CARB sank a great deal of resources into their green facilities and cutting-edge equipment. In total, the project cost the board roughly 419 million dollars; around 154 million of which came from fines incurred by Voltkswagen after the company violated California’s air quality laws in 2015. Other revenue sources included government funds such as the Motor Vehicle Account, the Air Pollution Control fund, and the Vehicle Inspection Repair fund.
However, the relocation is more than just an expansion project. Both CARB officials and UCR representatives see the new facilities as an opportunity to foster cooperative initiatives. For CARB, a facility next to UCR offers a unique opportunity to invest in educational and outreach initiatives. UCR partners with local school districts and colleges to offer environmental science training programs for underrepresented groups, including women and people of color. CARB’s formal agreement to work with UCR to create professional and educational opportunities for the Riverside community highlights the board’s commitment to outreach and equality. “As the state agency directly responsible for California’s programs to fight global warming and protect public health against air pollution, CARB depends on a scientifically literate public,” stated Mary Nichols, the CARB chairwoman. “From our new Southern California headquarters, we have an opportunity to reach a new generation of people who will be a part of this effort, whether as activists, professionals, or students. The relationship we are building with the Riverside community through these agreements will serve as a solid foundation for an exciting and fruitful relationship for generations to come.”
The new facilities also poise Riverside to become the headquarters for the fight against climate change and air pollution. CARB’s relocation will bring more prospective students and research opportunities to UCR’s environmental science department. The move will also leverage additional sources of funding for the college’s new inclusion initiative, OASIS. According to a UCR statement, “this opportunity highlights the unique and timely ability of locating clean technologies near the California Air Resources Boards’ (CARB) Southern California Headquarters and UCR campus as a key component of the campus’ Opportunities to Advancing Sustainability, Innovation and Social Inclusion (OASIS) initiative, the largest and most ambitious initiative in economic development in which UCR has ever embarked.” Exact details on the new OASIS program are in development, however the university has stated it is excited to partner with CARB on research and internship opportunities. The business community of Riverside sees the CARB facility and OASIS as an exciting opportunity for regional recognition and economic development.
As a women-owned environmental laboratory serving the Riverside community and Inland Empire for over 115 years, Babcock Labs is thrilled to see UCR and CARB cooperating on environmental and societal initiatives that promote inclusion. For the latest in environmental news in and around the Inland Empire, sign up for our monthly newsletter or read our latest articles on the Babcock Labs’ website.