Tag: Utah State Legislature

Sole-Source Conversions Good for Air Quality, Homeowners

This week’s blog is from 2015 and highlights the popular woodstove exchange program. Last week, The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released the 2020 registration schedule for the overwhelmingly popular grant program to convert operating wood-burning fireplaces to cleaner-burning natural gas or electric. Online registration will take place across the Wasatch Front and Cache …

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State Legislature Set to Address Utah’s Air, Land and Water

Today marks the start of another legislative session. For the next 45 days, Utah’s Legislature will meet in Salt Lake City to change existing laws, pass new laws and set the state’s budget. Some of these laws and appropriations will address environmental concerns. Here’s a look at the upcoming session.

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Governor’s $100M Air Quality Request A Good Investment

In 2017, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and Gov. Gary Herbert announced a lofty goal to reduce annual emissions into Utah’s air by 25 percent by 2026. To make this plan a reality, Gov. Herbert’s 2019 budget provides $100 million to fund high-impact air quality projects.

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Utah Celebrates Ten Years of “Idle-Free”

By Tammie Bostick-Cooper, Guest Blogger September marks the 10th year of the Idle-Free Governor’s Declaration in Utah. Our state had the first Idle-Free campaign in the nation, and it all started in Salt Lake City. Since 2007, more than 50 Utah mayors have signed the declaration. And in 2011, Salt Lake City–where it all began–became …

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Legislative Session Helps Us All Breathe a Little Easier

By Scott Baird The whirlwind of Utah’s 45 day legislative session is over, the dust has settled,  and we at the Department of Environmental Quality want to thank you for helping this session to be a success. The appropriations and legislation approved in this session will ensure that the Department can continue its ongoing work …

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DEQ’s Budget Priorities Reflect Our Values

By Scott Baird The 2017 Utah Legislature kicked off its 45-day session last week, marking the start of an exciting and occasionally hectic time for all of us at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Although we are neutral players in the legislative process, our directors and scientists are available 24/7 to answer questions, …

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DEQ: Air Scientists Have Eyes in the Sky for PM2.5

By Donna Kemp Spangler It doesn’t take a scientist to know Utah has prolonged periods of bad air during the winter. But it does take a team of local and national scientific researchers to understand more fully why we have bad air. For years, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s air-quality scientists have been focused …

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Let the 2015 Legislative Session Begin

By Brad T. Johnson and Scott Baird Today marks the start of the 2015 Utah Legislature—the 45 days when Utah’s 75 representatives and 29 senators converge on the State Capitol to enact new state laws. It’s a busy time for all involved. But it’s also an exciting time for those of us at the Department …

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Air Quality: Legislative Funding Helps Researchers Tackle Air Quality Problems

By Payden McRoberts One million dollars. That sounds like a lot of money, right? Well, it is.The 2014 Legislature’s appropriation of $1 million to the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) for research projects is an important step towards finding solutions for Utah’s complex air quality problems. After vetting a number of proposals last fall, DEQ …

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