SALT LAKE CITY — Conversion to low-sulfur fuel at the gas pump along the Wasatch Front is the best and cheapest fix to the nagging air pollution problem everyone wants solved, lawmakers were told Wednesday.
The Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee hosted an interim discussion on the nation's pending transition to so-called "Tier 3" fuels — a move mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 2017.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and his Clean Air Action Team want that shift to be made as soon as possible, hoping the refineries that service Utah vehicles climb on board quickly.
"There is no strategy that does more for air quality at less cost with less disruption than this transition to Tier 3," said Alan Matheson, the governor's environmental adviser.
Bryce Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality, said the analysis by the EPA on Tier 3 showed that Utah stands out as the No. 1 place in the country that would benefit most from conversion to the new fuel standards and the cleaner burning cars.
"It is a very large benefit to air quality at a very low price," Bird said, adding that emissions from vehicles would be shaved by as much as 11 percent along the Wasatch Front.
Supporters of the Tier 3 move say that sort of reduction in pollutants represents the single largest dent that could immediately be made to the area's air pollution inventory — which routinely propels Utah into a negative spotlight for its spikes in wintertime soot.
The reality of Tier 3, however, is that the improved fuel may never make its way to Utah pumps given that the new regulations allow the largest refineries to "average" their sulfur content across refineries. In addition, smaller refineries enjoy an extended deadline to manufacture the low-sulfur fuels.
Matheson said three of Utah's refineries that manufacture 90 percent of the fuel, however, intend to have the low-sulfur fuel available by 2020, and HollyFrontier wants it in place two years earlier.
Although the state may have little regulatory leverage to force low-sulfur fuels at the pump any sooner, Matheson said Utah can explore other ways to encourage a more expedient transition to Tier 3 standards, such as incentives for the vehicle purchases.
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