Tag Archive for: Rocky Mountain Power

2023 Clear the Air Challenge Kicks Off

Clear the Air Challenge lasts one month to build Travelwise habits and improve air quality

The Salt Lake Chamber, along with its partners Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) and TravelWise, kicked off the 14th Annual Clear the Air Challenge today. Issued by business, government and community leaders, the Challenge is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone.

“We are excited to launch the Clear the Air Challenge again this year to keep air quality front and center for our communities,” said Gary Hoogeveen, chair of the Salt Lake Chamber and president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power. “Our partners here today represent leaders who seek solutions and ways to help improve air quality and put their actions behind their words. No solution is perfect for maintaining clean air, but we know practical actions exist that can yield significant outcomes. By empowering ourselves through education and actively minimizing our environmental footprint, we can genuinely enhance the quality of our air.”

Nearly half of the pollutants that contribute to Utah’s poor air quality can be attributed to transportation emissions. By adopting more intelligent driving practices, you have the ability to safeguard the health, environment, economy, and quality of life in Utah. To achieve this goal, participants of the Clear the Air Challenge actively employ TravelWise strategies such as carpooling, utilizing public transit, teleworking, trip chaining, as well as walking, biking, or using scooters, all aimed at reducing emissions and promoting the improvement of Utah’s air quality.

“At UCAIR, we place immense importance on understanding the driving forces behind behavioral change and the environment,” emphasized Kim Frost, executive director of UCAIR. “The Clear the Air Challenge plays a key role in helping businesses and individuals understand the significant impact their actions can have in clearing our air. When individuals recognize the efficacy of their efforts, they are far more inclined to embrace behavioral shifts, not just during the Challenge, but throughout the year.”

One of the key objectives of the Challenge is to raise awareness among Utah residents regarding our air quality concerns. In prior years, the Challenge took place in February, aligning with the winter inversion period when air quality visibly deteriorates. However, again this year, the event will be held in July to address Utah’s summertime ozone issues. Though not as visible, summertime ozone is equally harmful, yet its detrimental effects are less commonly known among the general public.

“By carpooling, biking, walking, or using public transportation whenever possible, we reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “But this challenge goes beyond individual actions. It requires a collective effort. It takes collaboration between businesses, organizations, and community leaders. When we support sustainable practices and policies that prioritize clean air, we provide the next generation of Utahns with a healthier future.”

Since the Challenge started in 2009, participants have helped make a big difference in improving Utah’s air quality. In that time, participants have eliminated more than 1.3 million trips, saved more than 20 million miles and reduced their emissions by more than 6,700 tons.

“We’re proud to join the Clear the Air Challenge again this year,” said Lori Smith, Utah regional leader at Fidelity. “The Challenge serves as a great educational opportunity for our communities on the impact of poor air quality and a heightened sense of awareness that together, through our choices, we can help create a healthier future for all Utah residents.”

By encouraging employees to participate, businesses can create a team to make an even bigger impact. The Clear the Air Challenge begins July 1.

How to Participate:

  1. Sign up on the Clear the Air Challenge website at cleartheairchallenge.org and create an account.
  2. Challenge friends and co-workers to participate as a team or individually.
  3. As a business owner or team manager, send out the challenge fact sheet available in the Startup Toolkit to your employees that explains what the challenge is and why they should participate.

Questions? Contact info@cleartheairchallenge.org.

Rocky Mountain Power – Top Leader of Clear the Air Challenge

The Clear the Air Challenge is a month-long competition that gives residents the chance to reduce vehicle emissions by choosing alternative methods of transportation. By driving less and commuting smarter, we all can help improve air quality, reduce traffic and conserve energy in Salt Lake City. According to the Utah Division of Air Quality, “If all drivers living along the Wasatch Front were to park their cars just one day per week, vehicle emissions would be reduced by 6,500 tons per year.”

“Prosperity rises from jobs and opportunity but these do not happen in a vacuum. They come from corporations choosing Utah as a destination.“ said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “As companies look to our state because of its competitive advantages — including workforce talent, excellent business climate, and best in class recreation minutes away — we have to make sure that bad air quality doesn’t deter them from choosing our state. We all have a stake in improving the environment, and the Clear the Air Challenge is one major way we can engage.”

Since the Challenge started in 2009, participants have helped make a big difference in improving Utah’s air quality. In that time, participants have eliminated almost 1.2 million trips, saved more than 17 million miles and reduced their emissions by more than 5 thousand tons.

Among the top leaders in the 2021 Challenge was Rocky Mountain Power.

“We all know that our tailpipe emissions are the largest contributors to Utah’s air quality problem, and we are proud to be leading Utah’s efforts to electrify transportation opportunities in Utah with a new $50 million investment in EV chargers here in the Wasatch Front and across the state,” said Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO, Rocky Mountain Power. “There are many ways in which we can all do our part to improve Utah’s air quality, and Rocky Mountain Power is proud to be part of that solution.”

By encouraging employees to participate, businesses can create a team to make an even bigger impact. The Clear the Air Challenge begins July 1. Register your team of coworkers, family or friends at ClearTheAirChallenge.org and be part of the solution.