Governor's Budget Request Items

• State Implementation Plan (SIP) Coordinator. $145,000 Ongoing. The SIP Coordinator will help ensure Utah's compliance with EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The Northern Wasatch Front is currently out of compliance with the 2015 ozone standard, and it is anticipated to get reclassified with more stringent requirements by January 2026. The reclassification will add additional workload with roadside monitoring and data analysis. The SIP Coordinator will oversee the new monitoring requirements and all aspects of the emission reduction plans that are due to the EPA to show how Utah will comply with the standard. The plans include administrative rules, engineering reviews, control requirements for large industrial sources, transportation planning details, a modeling demonstration, and specific emission reduction requirements, amongst other requirements.

Request for Appropriations

• DAQ Ozone Modeling. $250,000 One-time. Sen. Cullimore. This request would provide the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) with $250,000 to hire a third party to undertake modeling to be integrated into DAQ's air quality model to articulate the amount of ozone precursor emissions in the Northern Wasatch Front Nonattainment area that originate from outside of the US, in support of a Clean Air Act 179b demonstrations.
• Charge Your Yard Incentive Funding. $900,000 One-time. $5,100,000 Ongoing. Rep. Owens. The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) runs the Charge Your Yard incentive program that is designed to encourage commercial lawn care businesses and residents to reduce emissions by replacing 2-stroke yard equipment with electric-powered equipment. DAQ has identified 2-stroke yard equipment as a significant source of air pollution, and in an effort to meet the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone, DAQ will be implementing a rule by Spring 2024 that limits the use of this equipment on forecasted poor air quality days. Funding for this incentive program will help small businesses and residents comply with the rule while improving public health for Wasatch Front residents. A decision to reduce the funding amount by 20% may result in 20% fewer lawn care businesses participating in the program. The project budget is directly correlated with emission reductions along the Wasatch Front and therefore, emission reductions would scale down proportionally with the budget. 
• Clean School Bus Program - Matching Funds. $5,000,000 One-time. Sen. Cullimore. Authorized by Congress in 2021, EPA’s Clean School Bus program has roughly $3.5 billion through 2026 for grants and rebates to help school districts adopt zero- and low-emission school buses and install charging infrastructure. With federal funding available, Utah school districts could improve their odds of receiving grant awards for clean school buses with match funding provided by the Legislature.
• Emissions Reduction Amendments Fiscal Note (HB 220 passed 2023 session). $52,400 One-time. HB 220 was passed during the 2023 legislative session, with an estimated one-time cost in FY 2025 of $52,400. This funding item provides DEQ with the resources to complete the work estimated in the fiscal note.
• Mobile Air Quality Observation System. $350,000 One-time. Rep. Romero. This funding request will support the maintenance of the mobile (TRAX and eBus mounted) air quality observation system. This project will encompass the entire UTA service area. Analysis of the data and report generation will facilitate conveying this valuable information in real time to stakeholders and the public.
• DAQ Energy Efficient Insulation Grant Program. $2,000,000 One-time. Rep. Peterson, T. In 2022, SB 188, Energy Efficiency Amendments, created a new grant program within the Division of Air Quality to improve home energy efficiency and subsequently improve Utah’s air quality. The program provides up to $5,000 per project for Utah homeowners and builders to make energy efficient improvements to building envelops by adding high quality insulation and air barrier systems to the homes. This grant program is unique among other federal and state programs with similar goals as it is not income restricted and it can be utilized for new builds in addition to retrofits. Since the passage of S.B. 188, the Division of Air Quality has worked with state and industry experts to establish the program rules, which create clear standards the energy efficiency improvements to retrofits and new builds must meet in order to qualify for grant funding. The program rules, and broad support from industry members, clean energy advocacy groups, and local government entities, are in place, but an allocation of funds are needed to realize the program’s full potential.