The Hunt Administration's Record On Clean Air Clean air is a necessity for a high quality of life in North Carolina by protecting public health, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. Ozone pollution is a threat to all three.
Industries account for about half the NOx emissions in North Carolina.
Motor vehicles also account for about half, but the amount of NOx from this source is growing rapidly. From 1970 - 1995, our population grew by about 40 percent, while driving miles increased by about 150 percent. Motor vehicles account for up to 90 percent of NOx emissions in our urban areas. And cities that cannot show how they will prevent further pollution are at risk of losing federal transportation dollars - meaning roads cannot be built. Ozone caused by car exhaust is also a serious problem in the mountains, which have had a record number of bad ozone days in recent years.