Clean-air challenge kicks off

The Salt Lake Chamber, with partners Utah Clean AIR (UCAIR), a statewide clean-air partnership, and Utah state government initiative TravelWise, has kicked off its 10th Annual Clear the Air Challenge. The challenge, issued by business, government and community leaders, is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone.  {mprestriction ids="1,3"}

According to the partnership, transportation emissions are responsible for nearly 50 percent of the pollutants that make up poor air quality in Utah. By reducing vehicle trips, citizens can help protect health, environment, economy and quality of life, the group said. Participants in the Clear the Air Challenge are encouraged to use strategies like carpooling, using public transit, teleworking, trip chaining, using electric vehicles, walking or riding bikes or scooters to reduce their emissions and help clear Utah’s air.

“While we can’t do much about our geography, we can control the choices we make to decrease the emissions that cause air pollution,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and the Downtown Alliance. “The Clear the Air Challenge shows us that small individual changes can, and do, make a difference to Utah’s air quality. And when we improve our air quality, we enhance the well-being of all Utahns and ensure our continued economic success.”

Since the challenge started in 2009, participants have helped make a big difference in improving Utah’s air quality, Miller said. In that time, more than a million trips have been eliminated, 15 million miles saved, 5,000 tons of emissions reduced and $6.5 million saved, according to figures from the chamber.

“As we all know, there are no perfect answers to solving Utah’s air quality problems, but there are practical solutions,” said Thom Carter, UCAIR executive director. “The Clear the Air Challenge is one way to engage the citizens of Utah in finding practical solutions that make a real difference in improving our air quality.” 

“Penna Powers is proud to have been a partner and a participant in the Clear the Air Challenge for the last 10 years,” said Dave Smith, president of Penna Powers, a Salt Lake City-based marketing agency. “We incentivize our employees to participate in the challenge by offering fare reimbursement for those who take public transit, flex schedules, teleworking options as well as encourage carpooling whenever possible. As a result, Penna Powers employees are proud to work for a business that cares about the environment as much as they do.”

The Clear the Air Challenge began Feb. 1.  Information is available at ClearTheAirChallenge.org.{/mprestriction}