Politics & Government
AQMD to Discuss Grant Proposals
Tuesday meeting in Palm Desert looks at plans to spend $53 million in environmental offset money - including the 1e11 greenway project
The Air Quality Management District meets Tuesday in Palm Desert to review grant applications and get direction on how to spend $53 million in money from the Sentinel II power plant under construction in Palm Springs.
The most controversial of the grants asks for over $40 million dollars for the "1e11" parkway, a pathways linking Palm Springs to 8 other valley cities. Advocates say the 1e11 would be a boon for runners, cyclists and golf carts, allowing easier access to shops and businesses, while also lowering pollution. Opponents claim the the parkway would do nothing for business, that the path would go mostly unused during the hottest summer months and that many of the areas served by the parkway are low-income and without populations of golf cart owners.
The AQMD meeting takes place Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Coachella Valley Water District offices on Hovley Lane East. An AQMD spokesman says the meeting will last until 5:00 p.m., if needed, for the public to comment on the proposals.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
All grant applications have been made available here.
More, including political reaction to the funding requests, is online here
