Spare the air. Bay Area residents, who drove less in summer to Spare the Air, will be asked for the first time this winter to give up wood fires in stoves and fireplaces to limit smoke on dirty-air nights. [News Source]

Spare the air. As winter approaches and temperatures cool down, Bay Area residents are being asked to postpone lighting fireplaces and woodstoves in an effort to keep air quality at healthy levels. [News Source]

Burning banned in S. Valley. A one-day ban on using wood-burning fireplaces and stoves was issued by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District on Saturday. [News Source]

Panel votes to urge ban on burning of fields The top Oregon grass seed industry lobbyist came to the south Willamette Valley this week to defend the practice of field burning, a method of removing straw stubble and weed seed from fields that sends massive plumes of smoke into the air. [News Source]

Reductions planned for emissions from drilling. Air emissions from some natural gas development activities in Colorado are headed for reductions. [News Source]

Colorado mulls tougher air standards. The state is poised to crack down on air pollution from the oil and gas industry blamed for putting the Front Range in danger of exceeding federal ozone levels. [News Source]

Air panel postpones action on new rules. A flurry of last-minute proposals ultimately derailed a marathon three-day hearing of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, postponing key decisions on new rules aimed at reducing pollution from coal-fired power plants and oil and gas companies. [News Source]

Government lax in cleaning up air. The government has turned its back on its duty to clean up Texas' notoriously dirty air, environmental groups said. [News Source]

Rules for outdoor fires are changing. Next time you light up that brush pile, scrap pile, or burn barrel you might be breaking the law. [News Source]

FPL plans Glades County Plant. In Glades County, Florida Power & Light is planning to build a coal-fired power plant big enough to energize 650,000 homes. [News Source]

Wood boilers draw fire. According to a recent study by the New England States for Coordinated Air Use Management, the typical outdoor wood boiler is only 28 to 55 percent efficient, which leads to a higher smoke output. [News Source]