The director of Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality states that we have worse air quality now even though emissions are down.
It’s unsurprising. Rocky Mountain Power’s Hunter and Huntington coal plants were supposed to shut down in 2032, but the power company then decided against it. The excuse being used as a diversion measure is that these plants are having to deal with climate change wildfires and lawsuits. Instead of focusing on remediating the problems that they are clear contributors to, the blame is on the consequences of inaction.
These coal plants spew millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, along with thousands of tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). NOx and SO2 are terrible for our health. On the individual scale, breathing in these pollutants can cause or worsen respiratory diseases, aggravate heart disease, increase asthma symptoms, and even lead to premature death. On the state level, they also contribute to regional haze in our national parks, marring the scenic vistas that we all cherish from the Mighty Five.
But the DEQ director lets Rocky Mountain Power escape blame. Instead, he purports that bad air is the primary fault of individuals who use gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers.
Maybe the director and the DEQ should talk to Utah legislators who voted for pro-coal SB224 and other 2024 bills that ensure Utah’s largest electric utility will remain heavily reliant on expensive and highly polluting coal power. And the Utah public should recognize that Rocky Mountain Power’s backtracking undermines years of progress and will saddle captive ratepayers with higher utility bills. The DEQ should be reminded that it works for Utahns; not for an out-of-state corporation.
Maia Hernandez, Salt Lake City