Despite concerns from some area real estate agents about their role in the town’s point-of-sale woodstove replacement ordinance, Truckee appears to be right on the mark with its Air Quality Management Plan.

Anyone who’s ever driven down Northwoods into Central Truckee on a cold winter day can appreciate that our town has an air quality problem.

Because of the temperature inversion, woodsmoke hangs like a pall over the town on those days, and you can smell and taste it.

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Although Caltrans’ sanding of Interstate 80 undoubtedly contributes to the problem, it’s the smoke that’s the major issue.

Other towns, including Reno, have implemented woodstove changeouts with success.

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Truckee Town Council made the right choice in approving the program – which may help our community avoid a federal or state non-attainment status in air quality.

Non-attainment would take responsibility for Truckee air quality management plan away from the town and place it in the hands of state and federal authorities, resulting in increased costs and less opportunity for local control and solutions.

However, because some Truckee residents rely on woodstoves for their primary source of heat, it is essential to put a working system of financial incentives in place as soon as possible.

While the deadline for total replacement is seven years in the future, that may not be a long time for a working family budgeting for a $2,000 expenditure.

Programs need to be in place and accessible soon, before the ordinances take effect next year.