Senate approves study to seek incentives for emission reductions; sponsors say it's not regulation

Salt Lake City — The Utah Senate on Feb. 10 passed Senate Bill 136 to give the Air Quality Policy Advisory Board new responsibilities and to direct the Division of Air Quality to study and recommend incentive‑based programs aimed at reducing emissions.

Senator Escamilla, presenting the bill, said the measure would fund a study and prioritize incentive programs rather than imposing new standards. "There's no standards on this bill. This is just a study," Escamilla told the chamber, describing the approach as using a "carrot" rather than a "stick." He noted the measure targets non‑attainment areas and would include the inland port by default as the board examines incentive options.

During floor debate Senator Buxton asked about monitoring capacity in the inland port area. Escamilla said three large monitoring stations had been placed as part of a prior bill and were collecting baseline air-quality data, and he could not point to a documented improvement yet. Other senators cautioned that the inland port's efforts to be 'green' should not be hindered by policy decisions.

A roll-call vote was recorded and the bill passed on third reading, with the presiding officer announcing "Senate Bill 136 having received 20 yay votes, 1 nay vote, 8 being absent." The bill is framed as a study and a potential source of incentive ideas to inform future air‑quality policy and programs.