The EPA is giving Utah its largest environmental grant ever

Utah will receive its largest environmental grant ever from one of its most frequent opponents: the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the Utah Inland Port Authority want to eliminate diesel-powered equipment at Union Pacific Salt Lake City Intermodal Terminal and reduce logistics-related emissions nationwide. The EPA – which is the target of one state lawsuit And legislation Outdoor air quality rules this year – awarded $112 million to state agencies in hopes of achieving cleaner air in the Beehive State.

“We are excited about the opportunity to lead the way in this area,” said DEQ Executive Director Kim Shelley, “and point out that there are electric alternatives that can be used and are just as effective there.” This type of transportation of materials and goods that Utahns rely on every day.”

Shelley's department will be responsible for the majority of the funding. The company plans to spend $110 million to replace diesel-guzzling trucks, locomotives and freight-handling equipment with electric versions. Freight companies use the terminal at 5500 West in Salt Lake City to transfer containers between trucks and trains.

Engines that burn diesel produce a number of harmful pollutants that affect human health, air quality and the earth's climate. At the terminal, unlike commuter cars, the equipment runs all day, exacerbating the impact of diesel consumption, DEQ officials noted.

The grant also includes funds to install solar panels and chargers at the facility.

The Inland Port Authority will use the additional $2.4 million to track the terminal's emissions, develop a plan to reduce those emissions in Salt Lake City and other port locations across the state, and provide community engagement.

“Now we must recognize that we must have the right mitigation strategies in place to manage the impact of logistics on the Northwest Quadrant (in Salt Lake City),” said Ben Hart, executive director of the inland port, “because It has a disproportionate impact on the west side of Salt Lake.”

The EPA announced the grant as part of its nearly $3 billion Clean Ports Program, funded by the EPA Inflation Reduction Act 2022. The aim of the initiative is to reduce diesel pollution and support the port industry in switching to zero-emission operations.

DEQ officials expect to begin rolling out the cleaner equipment late next year.