Air Quality

Unclean air in Utah is a result of many different factors, so it will require a concerted effort from Utah’s industries, government, and citizens.

I support commonsense initiatives to improve Utah’s air quality without imposing burdensome regulations on individuals and businesses.

Here’s what we are doing to address this issue:

• Regulating emissions- With Utah's regular inversions we need to do what we can.  While excessive government regulations are bad for Utah’s economy, certain regulations are beneficial - for health and safety. The state is working with Utah’s businesses to ensure they use the best practices and the best technology available to reduce their emissions. Examples include:
  • New regulations on plastics, metals, and other materials commonly used for industrial and commercial activities
  • Requiring catalytic oxidizers be installed on new emissions sources like commercial char broilers.
  • Requiring use of low-emission salt/ sand on icy roads and sidewalks. Some commonly-used winter road treatments actually contribute to air pollution, so the state is requiring use of lower-polluting alternatives.

Businesses have responded favorably to these, even taking further steps on their own, such as upgrading truck fleets, to reduce emissions and help clean up our air.

• Expanded mass transit- With the expansion of bus, light rail (Trax), and commuter rail (Frontrunner) services, UTA has been able to take more cars off the road, especially during rush hour. In addition to smoother commutes, this will help us reduce automobile emissions. UTA, in partnership with Utah industries, is implementing new programs to expand ridership, especially on inversion days.

• Smarter transportation infrastructure- The Department of Transportation continues to seek ways to move traffic more quickly and smoothly, which in turn reduces emissions. UDOT’s measures to move traffic more smoothly and efficiently include:
• Freeway expansions and HOV lanes
• New intersection designs to improve traffic flow
• Flex lanes to more effectively handle peak commute volumes
• Traffic light coordination.

• Encouraging citizen involvement- As Utahns, we can all do our part to improve our air.  We can all take simple steps to reduce our personal impact on the environment. Taking simple steps like telecommuting, not idling car engines, or using a snow shovel instead of a snow blower, can go a long way to cleaning up our air. The state is also working to inform citizens when air quality is particularly poor so we can all take steps like carpooling or using mass transit to further reduce emissions on those days.