Utah’s Senate Bill 170, Clean Truck Incentive Program is a commonsense way help increase air quality along the Wasatch Front and the rest of the state through the use of incentives rather than mandates.
Sponsored by Senator Don Ipson, (Dist 29) the legislation would transfer of $6 million over three years for a new grant program within the Utah Division of Air Quality for eligible purchasers of clean fuel trucks.
The bill has the support of the Utah Trucking Association and other groups:
“As the Utah Trucking Association reviews legislation regarding alternative fuel options, we very much appreciate Senator Ipson’s approach in SB170. This bill provides incentives to consider alternative fuel vehicles rather than significantly expensive mandates. SB170 allows companies to explore electric vehicles that otherwise would be unattainable due to the extraordinary price gap between today’s diesel powered trucks and the currently available electric vehicles.”
Utah’s populous Wasatch Front, a 100-mile corridor where 80% of the state’s population resides, can experience notorious winter-time inversions that result in considerable air pollution especially dangerous to sensitive populations.
Since 50% of Utah’s air pollution is derived from trucks and vehicles, this bill would allow for additional steps to be taken to reduce air pollution from medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
TWW thanks Sen. Ipson for this incentive based policy that will help improve Utah’s air quality.