Amy Dominguez, amy.dominguez@sierraclub.org
Salt Lake City – Today, the Utah Division of Air Quality (UDAQ) held a public hearing on a revision to its regional haze plan that continues to fail to reduce pollution from Utah’s worst coal offenders. In the hearing, advocates called on the agency to retain the requirement in its haze plan that coal units at the Intermountain Power Plant (IPP) close by the end of 2027, as the plant’s owner originally planned to.
In August 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to partially disapprove UDAQ’s plan for failing to reign in and reduce pollution from the state’s worst offenders, and falling short of its obligation to improve air quality for national parks and communities. The plan included an enforceable shutdown date for IPP’s coal-fired units. Now, in its latest revision that is currently proposed for public comment, UDAQ altogether removes the previously established shutdown date, and rejects the most effective pollution controls available for the plant’s coal units.
The plant’s continued life support is enabled by Utah Legislators like Representative Carl Albrecht, and Governor Cox, who signed a bill that evaluates how to keep the IPP coal units open under the pretense of securing Utah’s energy supply, despite the fact that nearly all of the power generated at the plant was previously sold to entities in California, with those contracts having already met their end. Now, according to a public records request, data centers have shown interest in keeping the plant operational.
Coal-fired power plants like Hunter, Huntington, and IPP overwhelmingly contribute to haze pollution in Utah and across the region, and are among the nation’s worst national park polluters. Their emissions deteriorate air quality, and ruin scenic views in the treasured “Mighty Five” national parks in Utah and parks as far away as Yosemite in California. The Regional Haze Rule is intended to cut air pollution in these beloved places so they can return to natural visibility.
“Utah’s Air Quality Board should withdraw this proposed revision and reject efforts to bring IPP back online at the expense of clean air and the health of our communities and public lands,” said Senior Campaign Organizer for the Beyond Coal Campaign Luis Miranda. “Utah’s partially disapproved State Implementation Plan was already a do-nothing plan. Now, this revision would allow a plant to keep operating and polluting some of our most treasured National Parks. Utahns, and the millions of people who visit, deserve to experience these parks without diminished views – not a policy that locks in more pollution. UDAQ has an opportunity to put clean air first, and it should withdraw this harmful revision.”
"Clear skies are an essential component of the National Park experience,” said Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. “They ensure a healthy habitat for plants and animals and allow visitors to appreciate beautiful vistas and spectacular night skies. Here in Utah, our treasured national parks are world renowned and a vital economic support to local communities–making the Intermountain Power Plant a grave threat to both the clean air above Utah's public lands and to all the benefits they generate. The Utah Division of Air Quality must put the real needs of Utahns over shortsighted profits, and shut this plant down."
“Intermountain Power coal plant is among the biggest sources of haze pollution to our national parks. The outdated and aging coal facility has not operated since last year, yet the State of Utah is trying to revive it with no requirements for modern pollution controls,” said Cory MacNulty, campaign director for the southwest region at the National Parks Conservation Association. “Yet again, Utah is failing Utahns, our national parks and their visitors by allowing controllable pollution to continue unabated, just as they have repeatedly done for nearly two decades. Haze pollution regularly ruins the views at Zion, Arches and Canyonlands and it isn’t just the scenery and landmarks visitors are missing out on. We’re risking the health of park staff, visitors and gateway communities. We deserve better from the State of Utah to clear the air in our national parks.”
“Our communities and our parks deserve better, and we strongly believe that the state must do better. The Intermountain Power Plant should be allowed to die its natural death rather than propped up to continue operating, spewing vast amounts of pollution with no requirements for modern controls for the foreseeable future. We value our parks, we value the economy that depends on them, and most of all we value our lungs and the lungs of everyone impacted by the pollution from this outdated, expensive, coal-fired power plant," said Lexi Tuddenham, Executive Director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah.
###
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.