Air quality, water rights and the drying of the Great Salt Lake are primary issues, but there is more. Not to be punny, but the saying “A rising tide lifts all boats” can be applied here. If we think broadly about the economies within Utah, and share a desire to improve outcomes for our neighboring counties, we all benefit.
- The Great Salt Lake Collaborative has stark warnings for the future of the Great Salt Lake and surrounding communities as its shores shrink and expose toxic dust. Global warming is impacting us, and the sooner we take action the better we can limit the severity of environmental change that affects our state.
- Utah recently announced its selection by the IOC for the 2034 Winter Olympics, but the announcement comes with a mandate to improve air quality before we host this international event. Inversions mean that Utah has some of the worst air quality in the nation, and this affects everyone who lives here. Staged, multi-year legislation to reduce traffic, promote remote work, improve public transportation, implement stricter emission regulations on vehicles and commercial production are all necessary.
- Water rights are coming to a legal loggerhead, and we need to prepare for a revision on shared water resources. Ag needs incentives to move from water-intensive farming and ranching, with viable economic solutions that support agriculture and communities.
- We need to embrace clean energy, and that means investing in the development of clean energy technologies as well as producing jobs to replace economies built on fossil fuel industry.
- There is a saying that all legislation is disability legislation. Environmental issues (air quality, public transportation, etc) are also disability issues.
- Public transportation options need to improve, particularly for east-west transit in Salt Lake county, and north-south routes that connect SLC with its neighbors, reduce traffic, and improve air.
- Strategically, we should place industrial and transportation hubs with an eye for economic growth, community viability and a strategy for clean air.