Utah deserves much cleaner air

We don't have to accept that bad air is just a part of living in Utah...we can do much, much better.

 

Unhealthy air quality is one of the biggest problems we face here in Utah. Historically, Utah's bad air days were typically during winter inversions, but now we're also getting bad air days throughout the summer. Most Utahns recognize that bad air is a threat to their family's health and their ability to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, but it also damages the state economy and discourages businesses and employees from locating in Utah.

 

Excessive air pollution in northern Utah is taking a toll on our health and life expectancy. For example, air pollution in the Wasatch front has been shown to be causing 1,400 to 2,000 premature deaths each year. Air pollution also causes heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure, asthma and respiratory infections, low birth weights, premature births, infant mortality. We pay for the pollution in so many unfortunate and unnecessary ways. We can, and must, do much better.

 

As a member of the Utah legislature I will be a strong advocate for Prosperity 2030, the Energy Independence rooftop solar bill, and Clean the Darn Air initiative, which proposes to use free market strategy to dis-incentivize pollution. Beyond just cleaning up our air, the Clean the Darn Air initiative would eliminate taxes on grocery store food, support low-income working families, expand the Retirement tax credit, and support rural economic development. That’s a win-win-win-win-win.