Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of the citizens of Utah by promoting science- based health education and interventions that result in progressive, measurable improvements to the environment. We encourage the development of renewable sources of energy, such as wind, as an essential step toward avoiding the unhealthy consequences of our excessive reliance on coal and petroleum. We believe that there are several solutions that if enacted, could dramatically improve the air quality in Utah, and thereby significantly improve the health of our citizens.
The following list represents some the policy goals that we would like to see implemented.
- We advocate that all new electric energy supplies for the state of Utah should come from renewable resources.
- State-of-the-art controls on existing plants
- A reduction of the speed limit to 55mph when air pollution exceeds EPA limits
- Public subsidies for mass transit, free ridership and expanded service
- A 20% emissions reduction strategy by the Air Quality Board
- State funding for more extensive environmental monitoring;
- Strategies to increase public awareness about the negative health effects of air pollution
- Encouragement for school districts to use school buses that runs on alternative fuels
- Policies that prohibit school buses from idling in school yards while waiting for students
- The establishment of air pollution warning indices that promote the safety of pregnant women and their unborn children.
- A goal of attaining 25% renewable energy sources by the year 2020
- Educate people about the sources of pollution and their health consequences
- Provide medical expertise to organizations working on urban planning, renewable power, increasing fuel efficiencies, and transportation alternatives.