Air quality is a matter everyone cares about — especially living in Utah, a state which experiences some of the nation’s most extreme winter inversions.
When those inversions combine with high levels of particulate matter — PM2.5 — the air pollution is concentrated, producing poor air quality and affecting the health of everyone living throughout the Wasatch Front.
The real question is, who can fix this problem? The simple answer: all of us.
Vehicles are the primary source of precursor emissions for PM2.5 pollutants. They account for more than half of the typical winter workday emissions, with the second most contributing sources coming from homes, small businesses and buildings.
The choices millions of people make every day concerning their cars, thermostats, lawnmowers and hundreds of other seemingly small things affect air quality.
“Law is important, regulation is important, rules are important, but it will be the community who will help us clean the air,” says Ted Wilson, executive director of Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR).
Geneva Rock is proud to play a part in the Utah community. Geneva recognizes its vehicle and equipment fleets play a part in air quality.
In January, Geneva held a rib-bon cutting ceremony for its new natural gas fueling station and 25 CNG concrete mixer trucks. This $8 million fleet and facility — just part of a $30 million investment in clean air initiatives — is the equivalent of taking 8,000 cars off the road each year.
“Lowering our emissions is of utmost importance to us as a company and guides our overall operating decisions,” says Jim Golding, president of Geneva Rock. “We’re going to continue to raise the standard in environmental stewardship.”
In addition to taking responsibility for its own equipment and facilities, Geneva hopes to be a community partner in supporting changes for good.
Geneva Rock donated $25,000 to UCAIR to support local grants and education programs in 2017.
UCAIR is a statewide clean air partnership that works with individuals, businesses and communities to make changes to improve Utah’s air. Programs include: Air Assist for small businesses, Innovator’s Competition for air quality grants, and targeted grants for promoting individual behavior changes.
“We all share ownership and responsibility for Utah’s air quality,” Ted says. “We applaud Geneva Rock for leading its industry in contributing to a better air quality solution. There is no silver bullet to solving Utah’s air quality, but every small change adds to a collective bigger step toward better health, a better economy and better overall quality of life for all of us.”