Poor air quality affects all of us, and it is a matter of life and death for some. Each of us should take responsibility for how our choices affect our environment and those around us. Our beautiful valleys are always going to struggle with air quality because of forces beyond our control. However, there are many things we can do to keep our air as clean as possible. Utah will double in population in the next 50 years, and our leaders need to thoughtfully plan for this growth with air quality in mind.
Citizens should not be forced to adopt green behaviors, but expanding choices to those who want to limit their footprints should be a priority and driven by the free market. Policies should encourage and support actions to help keep our air clean. This position is fiscally responsible because pollution has real costs. Families and companies think twice before moving to a place with poor air quality. Also, during inversions, emergency room visits go up, and productivity goes down.