Salt Lake City Corp. is concerned about the Great Salt Lake drying up and the remaining dust killing all of us with toxic chemicals. I recall when SLC set up the E2 Business program under then-Mayor Rocky Anderson in 2003.  I signed up and was the first company to do so. Several of my fellow Realtors at the time thought I was promoting bigger lawns because I was ‘going Green’ (for reals!). Our city is diligently trying to keep getting our town greener through a program called ‘CLIMATE FORWARD SLC’. Tyler Poulson, founder of Collaborative Climate, a firm specializing in climate and clean energy solutions for public, private and non-profit clients of which SLC is one is leading the study.

His firm polled several local businesses last December about what types of sustainable measures local businesses are doing and their financial/tech issues as to how to be more sustainable. Climate Forward SLC-a continuation and enhancement of former city priorities- has a goal for us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions here by 40% in 2040. Where are these emissions? In our buildings, on the roads and via materials and food waste we all contribute to daily.  A study called ‘existing conditions report’ on the website notes risks, carbon sources, and input that’s been collected earlier this year on city’s website such as the fact that air quality ground level ozone impacts-local air pollution-has reduced outdoor air quality, in the past 30 years, as well as indoor air pollution data and choices for things like home and business appliances that affect air quality. Per our carbon emissions, the goal is obviously to reduce burning fossil fuels. Our primary sources of greenhouse gases: electricity generation (40%), natural gas consumption in buildings (29%). We have a cleaner electric grid, but Poulson says we need to get to 0% carbon emissions from electricity usage in the equipment we buy and the vehicles we use.

He contends there are keys to eliminating emissions: cut energy waste, electrify everything to reach a 100% clean grid.  We can choose to upgrade our home appliances for households by replacing gas machines like our furnaces and our gas stoves by electrifying a household like changing out HVAC and water heaters with heat pumps and kitchen ranges with induction ranges. Per transportation: emissions can be eliminated at the tail pipe with electric vehicles, taking TRAX and electric buses or opting to walk or bike.

He reported that our national grid is getting cleaner, as solar just exceeded coal in the US grid this year, adding wind is the #1 renewable energy source in the US. The Euro union reports that 25% of electricity is coming from solar in the summer months. Utah has ‘renewable communities’ with new program this winter in 16 local governments with a goal of a net goal of 100% clean, 100% electric grid with 0 emissions. You’ll get more info in the mail from Rocky Mt. Power in the mail to sign up as an individual household.

For more info: Slc.gov/sustainability/climate-forward