ComEd Launches Air.Health/IL to Support Clean-Air Projects in Chicago’s Bronzeville Neighborhood

ComEd, in collaboration with Aclima, a climate technology leader, has launched a new online portal called Air.Health/IL to support clean-air projects in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. This initiative is part of ComEd’s Community of the Future (CoF) program, aimed at developing innovative solutions to improve air quality and promote community benefits.

The air-quality monitoring effort, the first of its kind in Illinois, provides hyper-local measurements of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in Bronzeville. The data is visualized in interactive maps on the portal, allowing the public to better understand the air quality in their communities. This information will help ComEd and its community partners identify areas with high concentrations of pollutants and develop programs to mitigate their negative effects.

Bronzeville, known for its proximity to industrial sites and high-traffic areas like the I-90 expressway, has pockets of degraded air quality. The portal’s data will support ongoing efforts to pilot advanced technologies that improve air quality and promote community well-being. ComEd aims to extend the electric grid to support clean energy access for all customers, leaving no community behind.

ComEd plans to review the air-quality monitoring data to assess the impact of its efforts to boost electrification across the region. The company recently announced investments of $231 million to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption, a key component in lowering carbon emissions and enhancing air quality. These investments align with the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which aims to put one million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030.

Aclima, the partner in this initiative, deployed a fleet of low-emission vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art air-monitoring sensors to collect data in Bronzeville and Rockford, Illinois. The vehicles captured air quality data block by block, providing a baseline for tracking progress over time. The data will also help organizations target electric fleet vehicle deployments in areas most impacted by poor air quality.

ComEd and Aclima have recently launched the second phase of air-quality monitoring, extending coverage to neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago. This expansion will support the Community Research Climate and Urban Science (CROCUS) initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. CROCUS focuses on advanced observational science related to climate change and public health impact.

The Air.Health/IL portal is a significant step towards improving air quality in Bronzeville and other communities. By providing access to real-time air-quality data, ComEd and its partners aim to empower individuals and organizations to develop programs that enhance air quality and promote healthier environments for residents.

For more information about ComEd and its initiatives, visit ComEd.com. Connect with Aclima at aclima.io or via LinkedIn and Twitter.