Utah Moms for Clean Air

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released their “greenest vehicles of 2008″ list with the Civic GX natural gas car taking the title of the greenest vehicle for the fifth consecutive year.

“This is the eighth year in a row that a Honda vehicle received the number one ranking and the seventh consecutive year that Honda vehicles held at least four positions in the top 12, an impressive one-third of all vehicles on the list… and is 90% cleaner than the average
gasoline-powered car on the road today.”

Read more at:

• Green Cars
• NGV Global

Hello Utah Moms for Clean Air!

We knew that this 45-day period of the legislative session would be busy. We promised in our last call to action that we would be supporting legislative to clean up both cars and coal. Today is your chance to support a clean air and efficient vehicle tax incentive that is being voted on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4 (9th in line for the vote) and we’re asking you to act TODAY!

House Bill 106, sponsored by Representative Roz McGee (D) of District 28 and Senator Greg Bell (R) of District 22 is called the Clean Air and Efficient Vehicle Tax Incentive. It will incentivize purchase and retrofit of clean-fuel vehicles and help reduce emissions by vehicles.

We are asking you to write (email) or call your representative to ask them to vote in favor of H.B. 106 in the upcoming vote on the bill. Time is of the essence, so contact them Monday, if at all possible. Go to the House’s website to find your Representative’s contact information. A combination of an email and a phone call will be most effective since time is so short.

The following information on H.B. 106 is provided by Utah Clean Energy:

This legislation would provide performance‑based, fuel and technology neutral incentives for efficient and clean vehicles. Consumers would receive a tax credit for the purchase of a new vehicle ($1,000) meeting air quality and fuel economy guidelines set by the US EPA, or conversion of a vehicle ($2,500) to run on clean fuel such as natural gas, propane and electricity. This tax credit would sunset on December 31, 2013.

Main Points

• Currently, Utah has a tax credit for up to half the incremental cost of an alternative fuel vehicle’s powertrain and fuel system. There are some problems with this statute, as it provides full incentives for used vehicles that have limited remaining useful life and associated benefits. Some of these used vehicles are no more efficient and no cleaner than today’s passenger cars. This bill closes this loophole and supports the cleanest and most efficient vehicles.
• This 2008 legislation seeks to improve the existing statute to provide incentives for new vehicles meeting the highest standards for fuel efficiency and air pollution. It is fuel and technology neutral.
• It proposes a $1,000 tax credit for vehicles that meet criteria for fuel efficiency and air pollution. The vehicles currently eligible for this credit include: Honda Civic GX (CNG), Honda Civic hybrid, Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Mercury Mariner hybrid, Mazda hybrid Tribute, and Ford Escape hybrid. This list is may change as technology advances.
• It maintains the existing $2,500 tax credit for the conversion of vehicles to run on clean fuels through the installation of certified conversion equipment, providing an important incentive for cleaner natural gas conversions.
• It eliminates a requirement that owners of clean fuel vehicles annually purchase a clean special fuel tax certificate, which is not easily enforced and contributes little revenue to the State.

Important Point

• It is designed to let industry and the market decide the best technologies to meet air emission and fuel efficiency criteria, and streamlines the State’s administration of the credit.

What are the benefits to Utah and Utah’s Citizens?

• Help reduce reliance on foreign fuel and improve energy security. Proposed legislation would encourage the purchase of vehicles with an improved fuel economy of 41 to 44 percent, therefore reducing Utah’s reliance on foreign oil [1].
• Improve Utah’s air quality, benefiting our public health. Choosing a vehicle with the highest efficiency compared to an average economy car, can reduce of air pollutants such as NOx (by 71%), NMOG (by 89%), CO (by 50%), and HCHO (by 78%).[1]

[1] Source: Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality, 2007; NOx=Oxides of Nitrogen: Compounds containing nitrogen and oxygen; they combine with hydrocarbons in the sunlight to form smog; NMOG=Non-Methane Organic Compounds: Compounds containing carbon; they combine with NOx in the sunlight to form smog; CO=Carbon Monoxide: A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas; HCHO=Formaldehyde: A lung irritant and carcinogen

Thanks so much for all you do!

— Cherise, Dana, Cameron, Travis, Michelle, Pat, Deborah, Lori, and Jennifer
The Founders of Utah Moms for Clean Air

Tonight at midnight the public comment period for the Mountian View Corridor freeway closes.  If you haven’t done so already, please contact UDOT and let them know that you are concerned about the location of the proposed freeway and the lack of real public transit.

 The preferred alternative set out in the draft Environmental Impact Statement places the six-to-eight lane freeway within 500 meters of four schools; in fact three of those four schools are within 500 feet of the freeway!  Scientific studies show that attending school at such close proximity to a freeway is associated with serious health problems in children, including asthma, lung development problems, and even childhood cancer.   This location must be reconsidered, and any highway must be moved away from those children to a safer location.

We are also concerned that the plan does not call for any real public transit in the corridor for decades.  We believe that putting mass transit, such as light rail, into that end of the valley first will drive developemnt patterns in ways that will improve the air quality along the entire Wasatch Front.

To submit your comments please send an email to:   mountainview@utah.gov or mvcespanol@utah.gov

or go to the UDOT website and enter them into their form.

Thanks for taking action!!

Come to the Public Hearing on November 14th at 4:00pm at Hunter High School

Now is the time to have your voices heard!

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Mountain View Corridor has been released! The proposed Mountain View Corridor is a massive new 8-lane freeway on the western fringes of Salt Lake County, stretching down into Utah County. This sprawl-inducing freeway is set to bulldoze through neighborhoods, parks and school property, placing Utah’s children at an unnecessary risk.

Several recent peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that children living near freeways are at extreme risk for severe health problems. For instance, a Denver study demonstrated that children living within 250-yards of a freeway are 8-times more likely to develop leukemia and 6-times more likely to develop other cancers. Another study from southern California found that children aged 12-18 living within 500 meters from a freeway are at the highest risk for permanent deformities in lung development. Toxic air pollution generated from freeways concentrates in their proximities causing these harmful effects to children. In fact, this freeway can legitimately be seen to create a new “Cancer Corridor” for those who live, play, and attend school nearby.

The proposed Mountain View Corridor freeway would travel along 5800 West in Salt Lake County. It will place several schools inside the deadly zone of distance: Whittier Elementary, Hillside Elementary, Hunter Jr. High and Hunter High School specifically will be inside this concentrated toxic zone. The Mountain View Freeway will also induce massive automobile-dependent sprawl which will greatly add to Utah’s already alarming air pollution problem.

In addition, there is no real mass transit solution in the plan to help offset the traffic the freeway will create. In the beginning of the process, UDOT appeared to be looking at new rail transit along 5600 West. Unfortunately, however, the region’s new long-range plan has scrapped any new transit plans for this area for at least a quarter of a century!!! This is unacceptable given the terrible air pollution we face along the Wasatch Front. We must demand mass transit and non-freeway road expansion in order to keep our children safe from these pollution threats.

Please Come to the Public Hearing and Speak Out against the proposed location for the freeway and to demand that mass transit is built on 5600 West to Protect Our Children’s Health!

Mountain View Corridor DEIS Public Hearing
November 14th, 2007, from 4:00pm-8:00pm
Hunter High School
4200 South 5600 West
West Valley City, Utah

This will be the most important public hearing on the the proposed Mountain View Corridor! Please come for to the meeting (even if you only stay 1/2 an hour) and bring all of your friends and neighbors!

For more information contact:
Cameron Cova (supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org.) or
Marc Heilson (801-631-3365).

We need to let Salt Lake County officials know we support mass transit! There will be a re-vote on funding for TRAX and commuter rail on Thursday, November 1.

Last year, Salt Lake County voters approved a sizeable bond with the understanding that it would primarily fund mass transit. In accordance with voters’ wishes, the Salt Lake County Council of Governments (COG), voted to prioritize the Mid-Jordan and West Valley City TRAX lines, FrontRunner commuter rail, as well as an I-80 project. Utah County voters, also facing serious traffic and air pollution problems, have agreed to fund commuter rail from Utah County to Salt Lake City.

It is no secret that some Utah legislators object to funding mass transit and believe that all transportation money should be dedicated to roads. Last week, a legislative audit found that due to a mathematical error, the priority rankings of TRAX, FrontRunner Commuter Rail and road projects should be readjusted.

As a result of the audit, the Salt Lake County Council of Governments will re-vote the allocation of money to TRAX and commuter rail. See the summary of the situation in a Salt Lake Tribune editorial on October 19.

It is essential that we voice our support mass transit as a means of reducing air pollution along the Wasatch Front! Please forward this message to family and friends.

Thank you for all you do to support clean air!

Write or e-mail your comments to Salt Lake Mayor Peter Corroon, and Barbara Thomas, the Salt Lake County COG Coordinator:

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon
2001 South State Street, #N2100
Salt Lake City, UT 84190-1020
mayor@slco.org

Barbara Thomas, Intergovernmental Coordinator
Salt Lake County Council of Governments
295 N. Jimmy Doolittle Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
bthomas@wfrc.org

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Utah Moms for Clean Air has been asked to participate in the Clean School Bus USA campaign sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean School Bus USA Program provides us with a great opportunity to make difference in our air quality by reducing the amount of air pollution created by school buses. By adopting better idling practices, retrofitting buses with modern emission control technology, using cleaner fuels, and replacing older school buses, Clean School Bus USA hopes to put tomorrow’s cleaner buses on the road today.

Diesel engines are one of the largest sources of fine particulate matter and also produce ozone-forming nitrogen oxides and toxic air pollutants. When inhaled, pollutants in diesel exhaust cause lung damage and aggravate existing conditions like asthma and environmental allergies. Diesel exhaust is also thought to be a likely human carcinogen. Children are more sensitive to the harmful effects of diesel exhaust because they breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than do adults. Even more concerning are the health risks posed to our children riding on diesel school buses – they are exposed to up to ten times more toxic air pollutants than levels found in ambient air. There are approximately 450,000 school buses on the road nationwide and 390,000 of those buses are diesel. With more than 24 million children in the United States riding a bus to and from school everyday, there is an enormous burden of disease posed by the existing school bus fleet.

Tighter standards for new buses have already taken effect, however these standards don’t apply to existing buses. School buses can be in operation for 20 to 30 years, and without special action, it will take many years before new buses meeting the new pollution limits dominate our school bus fleet. The good news is that today’s buses can take advantage of cleaner technologies and fuels. Oxidation catalysts and particulate matter filters are two retrofit technologies that can help reduce diesel particulate matter. Both devices are housed in the exhaust system where they break down the pollutants in the exhaust. Oxidation catalysts are widely available and commonly used retrofit technologies. They are relatively simple, low cost devices that can be installed in almost all buses and require very little maintenance. They typically cost between $1,000 and $2,000 and reduce particulate matter emissions by 20 to 30 percent. Reductions may be even higher if used together with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. Particulate matter filters provide even greater particulate matter reductions. Filters are a more complex technology than catalysts and generally are most appropriate for 1995 and newer buses. Filters typically cost between $5,000 and $10,000 and require the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The combination of ultra-low sulfur diesel and particulate matter filter technology reduces particulate matter emissions by 60 to 90 percent. By understanding the current school bus fleet in Utah, we will be able to apply the most appropriate technology to help clean up our air and protect our children’s health.

About one third of all diesel buses now in service were built before 1990. These buses are excellent candidates for replacement as they pollute as much as six times more than new buses. Utah is fortunate enough to have an excellent role model in the Jordan School District, who under the guidance of transportation director, James Hinckle, has improved their school bus fleet to include 10 percent compressed natural gas vehicles. Much of the work done in this district was with the assistance of grants obtained from Clean School Bus USA.

Since its inception in 2003, Clean School Bus USA has awarded $5 to 7 million annually to help local school districts upgrade their bus fleets. Clean School Bus USA is a public-private environmental partnership and as such matching funds must be provided by grant recipients, with a typical rate of 5%. If our grant application is successful, we can expect an award of up to $500,000, which means we will need to provide matching funds of up to $25,000. This will likely be provided, in part, by participating school districts, but Utah Moms for Clean Air would like to see this grant money stretched even further by providing a greater percentage of matching funds. Please join us in protecting our children’s health by cleaning up Utah’s school bus fleet!

Please donate today.

Read more:

• Clean School Bus USA. Part of the EPA’s National Clean Diesel campaign.
• Tomorrow’s Buses for Today’s Children (pdf, 8-page pamphlet suitable for printing)
• “Jordan School District receives EPA grant for cleaner school buses,” February 22, 2006. Jordan School District is a leader in Utah.

A Utah Moms for Clean Air member, Debbie Sigman, has taken action to contact legislators and regulators about the state’s flex-fuel fleet. First, she explains the situation.

In last Thursday’s Salt Lake Tribune, columnist Rebecca Walsh describes the bureaucratic situation that has led Utah to own large numbers of E-85 flex-fuel cars – and run them on gasoline, at higher emissions than ordinary gasoline cars.

There was also another article on the state’s flex-fuel fleet in the Tribune a week ago.

Margaret Chambers, the fleet director, returned my call in a matter of minutes, and we had a very pleasant conversation. The upshot is, that she intends to purchase hybrids to the extent possible from here on out, but she is hampered by the omission of hybrids from the 1992 Federal EPACT law which mandates that states purchase 75% flex-fuel vehicles. The State is allowed to count “displaced fuel” of the hybrids towards the quota, but not the entire mileage capacity of the vehicle. (The U of U and USU still purchase CNG vehicles, which also count towards the quota.) The remainder of the quota must be filled by the more affordable and flexible E-85 cars (at $12,000 savings each over CNG cars), even though we have almost no ethanol west of the Rockies.

There is no current legislation to amend the 1992 law, but an effort is being assembled by the National Association of Fleet Administrators. To speed our transition to a hybrid fleet, we can ask our Senators and Representatives to support updating EPACT.

Because Senator Hatch has said in speeches that he thinks plug-in hybrids are a great idea, she sent him the following letter.

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On June 23, Utah Moms for Clean Air joined representatives of The Sierra Club, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, and Utahns for Better Transportation to canvas the Hunter Park neighborhood of West Valley City. We talked with residents about the proposed Mountain View Corridor freeway and the adverse health effects of locating a major freeway close to residential neighborhoods and schools. We passed out literature and asked citizens to contact Governor Huntsman, UDOT, and their elected representatives to voice their opinion on the proposed freeway.

According to several recent studies, children living near freeways suffer significantly increased rates of childhood cancers. The concentrated point-source pollution coming off freeways also exacerbates asthma and causes increased incidence of respiratory illness.

Many residents we spoke with did not know an 8-lane freeway was planned for their neighborhood. Others believed that the freeway is a “done deal” and cannot be stopped. In fact, there is ample opportunity for citizens to speak out against the proposed freeway and in favor of a “Transit First” option. Transit First would locate a TRAX line along 5600 West, and would connect with planned TRAX lines to the airport, West Valley City, and South Jordan.

Please contact us if you are concerned about the air quality impacts of the proposed Mountain View Corridor and want more information on how to become involved!