Local governments are hidden but important partners in air quality management.

While it is often overshadowed by concerns about climate change, air quality is still an important issue which affects a large number of Americans. Luke Fowler looks at the role of government in managing air quality, writing that while large scale state and federal programs and partnerships exist, there are often gaps in their coverage. Local governments, in turn, can feel pressure from their citizens to step in and fill those gaps. He finds that smaller municipalities often struggle to have an impact on air quality, especially if their coverage area is geographically large.