Comments about ‘Utahns urged to take 'Clean Air Challenge'’

Why is it that no one seems to point a finger to the large refineries located along the Wasatch front? Don't get me wrong, I do understand the initiative to limit driving, reduce wood burning stoves, ect. But, considering our states location trapping the air, wouldn't it be logical that the refineries are subject to some sort of rules or limitations as well? I live in North Salt Lake and you can watch the Flying J and Chevron refineries bellow out huge amount of smoke 24/7. And, although it would benefit the air quality, forcing them to relocate wouldn't be reasonable given the economy and job loss. I just feel they seem to be overlooked and all the pressure is laying on the automobile driver. Just my thought.

First step:
Get rid of your fuel guzzeling, air poluting SUVs !

"a free day of transit Feb. 12" -- on a Friday, when state workers are off work. Wow, this free day will have a huge impact then, not! Do it on a day when you could truly see if it would be of benefit to people.

But the question that should be asked: why is UTA and the state offering a "free" ride day when two days ago UTA just announced more cutbacks in Trax and bus services?

Yah I agree with the posters above, it is a tricky issue to navigate, as he, the Governor stated it will take all of us to do our part. I used to bicycle everywhere, in my former home state of MN, even in winter; to do grocery shopping I had a courier bag set-up on my bicycle, did lots of (3500 + miles a year!) as to mileage per errands.

I saved my family 'tons' of money going on my bicycle rather than 'expecting' a ride in auto for a 15-30 (to/from) minute trip. The $ saved went over time for bills or other uses ...

Why can't more people bike? Especially women who are "stay at home" IF kids are all in school -- or can they even consider walking to the store? You can use a small wagon or wheeled folding wire cart to place groceries in -- if unable to bicycle.

I used a Radio Flyer wagon -- when my son was small, he loved going to store that way in his wood sided wagon ... and helping!

I would think the $$ saved by NOT using car could help reduce pollution & end up appreciating car even more when necessary!

The number of SUVs here *is* crazy. I'm sorry, but you do NOT need a huge gas guzzler to navigate around SLC. Please do the responsible thing and walk/bike more and get a small, fuel efficient car.


say no to selfishness.

See, they want it on a day when state workers are off as it will already show a decrease in emissions and there you have it, a successful Free Ride Day! Hah!

Does anyone really think that the majority of citizens of this region will 1. Stop burning wood stoves? Nope, I have three neighbors that on red days when you can't see the mountains are burning. 2. Stop driving? How unless you live along tracks or the train are you going to stop driving? Too many people work off those routes and buses take too long. 3. People from Ogden to Spanish Fork don't care and won't stop. It's someone else's problem. 4. Will the refinery's stop? LOL, no.

Welcome to Salt Lake City, where the air is worse than LA in the winter (sometimes in the summer too).

This governor and all clean air advocates are barking up the wrong tree for air quality and how bad it has gotten in Utah. As for downtown, cars and car emissions are the least of the cause. The only vehicles in downtown are commercial and government vehicles so that accusation is false.

Wood stoves? They are very minimal in quantity and use so that rules them out. Besides, finding and buying wood to burn is very expensive.

The air quality in Utah has a direct correlation to developers, UDOT and salt use, and commercial vehicles who have very lax emission controls and restrictions, especially on diesel fuel vehicles. And of course the UTA buses proliferating the streets of downtown, roads and freeways of the valley, has nothing but diesels in their fleet.

Then how about the excess in traffic control lights forces hundreds to idle longer periods of time than they spend with a moving vehicle? So traffic flow is a major problem for downtown.

The most major issue individual vehicle owners can contribute is to slow down their vehicles on the freeways and streets. Excessive speed pollutes because excessive fuel is wasted to speed.

what about getting E85 available? I have a flex fuel car , but can't find the fuel! And, what about offering a state tax break for converting to hybrid cars, adding electric plenums to furnaces, converting wood burning stoves/fireplaces to gas or electric, even converting appliances to electric? There is so much that the state could be doing and isn't - it is disgusting!!! Other states are doing so much, utah state just "asks".

Herbert sounds more and more like his disgraced predecessor. The air along the Wasatch Front has steadily improved over time (remember that EVERYONE used coal and wood in living memory). Someone more conservative will replace him if he doesn't start representing Utahns instead of fringe SLC liberals.

The state does a great job encouraging residents to buy CNG vehicles with a $2,500 tax credit and 93 cents a gallon fill-ups.

So I bought a used Honda GX. Love it so much I'm considering buying another.

This way pollution is cut way down and you still get to drive a car.

Specter of Huntsman,

This is a health issue, not a conservative/liberal issue. Can't we talk about problems facing us all without immediately resorting to broad generalizations?
(Remember that the POPULATION of people creating pollution is exponentially higher now than at other points in living memory).
If "fringe SLC liberals" stand for public health and "conservatives" are against it, well...

Our officials talk, but they keep building roads, promoting development, embracing sprawl. You can't have it both ways. Limit growth or breath the filth we create.

Two policies will help more than anything else. Raise the gas tax in the state substantially. We are making a mess. Make the biggest mess makers, SUV users and those who choose to live miles from everything, pay their shre. And second, charge everyone for parking, especially at large insitutions like government, education, colleges, high schools. Free parking is socialism.

Don't go crazy and become like California where the Air Resource Board is implementing regulations that will cause a loss of a million jobs.

Finally, some sense of reason. I don't have a wood burning stove. I walk my kids to school. I go to the grocery store twice a month. And...the part everyone is going to hate...I have a Suburban! Heaven forbid! I live on a hill, in the snowy mountains of Utah, and I drive 3500 miles/year. As if my carbon footprint is as big as someone that drives 3 and 4 times more than me...give me a break. The generalizations are ridiculous...outlaw this, outlaw that...Raise everyone's taxes. Everyone just do their part within your way of life, and we can all get along.

Cars already have catalytic converters. Need to address real problems - sources of pollution without pollution control equipment, like diesel engines and aircraft.