Palomar Energy gets smog waiver, start-up restrictions (North County Times) SAN DIEGO ---- The Palomar Energy power plant in Escondido got a one-year break on emission rules from air pollution regulators Thursday for the times that its two gas-fueled turbines are firing up. [News Source]

State of the Air: 2006 (First Coast News) NEW YORK (AP) -- A major health organization says efforts to control air pollution from power plants are paying off, but too many cities still have excessive air pollution. [News Source]

Atlanta Ranks Ninth In Air Pollution (WTVY-TV 4) A new study shows Atlanta ranks ninth as the nation's most-polluted city. The report was issued by the American Lung Association. Earlier this month, the Georgia Conservancy and seven other environmental advocacy groups formed the Georgia Air Coalition. [News Source]

American Lung Association says Louisville has dirty air (Business First of Louisville) The American Lung Association's annual report on air pollution says Louisville is one of the sootiest cities in the nation. [News Source]

Mercury plan cuts pollution (Duluth News Tribune) Minnesota would take its biggest step ever toward reducing toxic mercury air pollution under an agreement announced Thursday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. [News Source]

State fails soot, ozone tests, report says (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette) Indiana failed, but it’s getting better and it has company. That was the air quality prognosis, according to the American Lung Association State of the Air: 2006 Report released Thursday. The report said federal efforts to control air pollution from power plants are paying off and urged the Environmental Protection Agency to curb pollution from marine and locomotive sources. [News Source]

County chokes on polluted air. Allen County, Indiana continues to get a failing grade when it comes to air quality. [News Source]

State of the air 2006. According to the American Lung Association's State of the Air 2006, while Hamilton County is taking steps in the right direction, there is still a way to go. [News Source]

Study: Cleveland ranks among worst in U.S. for air quality. A new report from the American Lung Association on Thursday shows improvement in air quality in much of the nation, but the news is not good for Cleveland. [News Source]

Don’t breathe too deeply in Ohio. When it comes to grading clean air across the nation, Ohio and each of its 88 counties get a big filthy F, the American Lung Association reported Thursday. [News Source]

Clean air economy gears up for more Bay area work. Consumers Energy is about to embark upon an $800 million project to meet new federal clean-air standards at two of its coal-fired electricity generating complexes in Michigan. [News Source]