We are now in week 5 out of 7 of this year’s legislative session, and we are seeing a lot more movement on environmental-related legislation.
Our team is currently watching over 20 different pieces of legislation that address our air quality crisis, support a just and equitable energy transition, and protect our communities from toxic and radioactive waste.
Here is a breakdown of this week’s new, good, and not-so-good.
Funding for zero-fares has not been identified as a top priority in the Executive Appropriations Committee and without action will not be funded.
We encourage you to reach out to members of the Executive Appropriations Committee and ask them to make a motion to include the “RFA Statewide Zero Fare Transit Pilot Program by Sen. Weiler” as a top priority for funding.
Utah Lawmakers plan to appropriate 2 million taxpayer dollars this legislative session to fund Rocky Mountain Powers’ legal lawsuit challenging the EPA’s ruling to include Utah and Wyoming in the CSAPR, better known as the “Good Neighbor Rule” of the Clean Air Act.
During the second week of this year’s legislative session, many environmental bills were discussed and voted on in both the House and Senate committees.
Our team worked behind the scenes before committee hearings to help lawmakers understand the details of bills and helped community members give public comments voicing their support or concerns.
During the second week of this year’s legislative session, many environmental bills were discussed and voted on in both the House and Senate committees.
Our team worked behind the scenes before committee hearings to help lawmakers understand the details of bills and helped community members give public comments voicing their support or concerns.
HEAL Utah Community Engagement Director Kenna Patiño talks about some of the issues the state organization is following during this legislative session.
Williams, a former physician who has been working on fighting exposure to radioactivity for the past 20 years, said radiation finds its way into communities through insidious ways.
“I went to medical school with someone who developed thyroid cancer, and all of his siblings developed thyroid cancer,” he said. “They lived in Salt Lake City but got their milk delivered from a dairy that was in Washington County. And that’s where the radiation found its way into the population.”
The most common way radiation spreads is through the air, said Williams
“We should be listening to the EPA,” said Vielleux. “The EPA has the best available science. All that ozone is crossing state borders, and it’s polluting other places. If those plants need to be shut down by the EPA, we’re going to take their word for it. Instead of spending $2 million on a lawsuit, maybe they should be spending $2 million thinking about where those jobs are going to be when the coal plants start shutting down. We’re just lighting money on fire for what purpose?”
Legislative Priorities with HEAL Utah’s Lexi Tuddenham and Dr. Brian Moench of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment.
HEAL Utah Bill Tracker, newsletter, action alerts and more
HEAL Utah Community Lobbying Training, every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30a-12:30p, during the Legislative Session
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment newsletter
Before embarking on projects like an auto mall, Gonzalez said, cities should answer: Would auto malls stay afloat in the next decades? How much parking would it require in the future? Is there enough room for green spaces in the city? And is this kind of development the best for the community?
