Healthy Utah

Air quality the organization addresses three main air pollution emission sources-- vehicles, area sources, and industry--by working with the state legislature, regulatory agencies, the private business sector, and the general public. We believe that action on air pollution is action on climate change and that advocating for clean air is one of the most immediate ways we can protect communities and the Environment. That's why Heal Utah works to strengthen and defend regulations and air quality standards while supporting policies and strategies that prioritize public health and frontline communities. Heal dedicated efforts to enhancing public input, transparency, and accountability within the i-15 highway expansion project, submitting its own technical comments as well as garnering over 500 public comments in the draft eis process. Heal was also actively involved in addressing ozone and regional haze pollution in Utah through engagement with the epa and state processes. Although a district 10 judge ruled against Heal in its legal challenge asking the epa to enforce its own pollution control rules on coal-fired power plants, Heal then put additional efforts into supporting the cross-state air pollution rule, reinforcing the need to address ozone pollution across the west. In addition, Heal joined a wintertime ozone working group to support better research and action to address both vocs and methane from the petroleum industry that contributed to a historically bad ozone season in the basin. With the transportation sector being the leading source of air pollution across the wasatch front, Heal doubled down on its efforts to create solutions through the expansion and improvement of active and public transit opportunities, while also working with westside communities to improve mobile air quality monitoring efforts in their neighborhoods. Finally, Heal continues to lead efforts to address fugitive dust pollution from a proposed mine on the wasatch front and in a coalition aimed at preserving the great salt lake.

Transition to clean energy the organization works to combat climate change by focusing on Utah's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The organization targets changes in industry, legislative and regulatory policy, and individual choices and behaviors. We believe that our energy system should be built for the people it serves and that advocating for clean energy requires a comprehensive approach. That's why Heal Utah works to advance a clean energy future that not only reduces emissions and stabilizes the climate, but also promotes adaptation, resilience, health equity, and economic opportunity in our communities. Heal continued to support the rollout of the Utah renewable communities program to secure 100% renewable energy for over 18 municipalities and counties by 2030. As part of this program it provided input on the development of a low income cost mitigation program and actively helped prevent the exit of the program's largest member, ogden. In addition Heal strengthened its ties with rural partners in the energy communities of carbon and emery counties, and became part of a labor coalition working to ensure that renewable communities can secure good jobs in the energy transition. In addition, Heal helped to support research on climate impacts through its participation in the first comprehensive heat-mapping effort for salt lake city--a citizen science effort that revealed disparities of up to 14 degrees difference on one of the hottest days of the year.

Radioactive and toxic waste the organization addresses radioactive and toxic waste issues by harnessing the power of grassroots advocates, educating the public on the hazards of radioactive and toxic waste, and watchdogging corporations that profit from it. We recognize that radioactive and toxic materials pose an environmental and public health crisis in tandem with our climate crisis. Consequently, Heal Utah believes there is no inclusive clean energy future if we continue to ignore the impacts of extraction on public health and frontline communities. When it comes to past, present, and future harms, we must stand with and protect Utah's communities. In 2023 Heal continued to monitor and oppose the Utah associated municipal power systems' "carbon free power project," a small modular nuclear reactor (smnr)proposal. We ultimately saw this project collapse in november 2023, due to concerns we had raised about high costs, slow timelines, and a lack of public transparency. Heal also opposed energy solutions' efforts to bring more toxic waste to Utah, and the nrc rulemaking process that could make it easier to bring depleted uranium into Utah. Additionally, Heal continued to advocate for cleanup of uranium contamination on the navajo nation before new mining and milling is permitted and supported the white mesa ute mountain ute community's plea for better oversight of the white mesa uranium mill. Furthermore, they actively lobbied for the extension and expansion of the radioactive exposure compensation act (reca), and continue to educate and support individuals affected by radiation exposure through an annual event commemorating the national day of remembrance for downwinders. Finally, Heal has started to work in coalition with other groups towards mining justice and better regulation to protect communities from industry.

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