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UCAIR Becomes a Private Non-Profit

Bob Nelson

State officials re-launched the Utah Clean Air Partnership or UCAIR today as a non-profit entity with a a new board of directors.  

Governor Gary Herbert gathered many new members of the UCAIR board in West Valley City on Tuesday to announce changes to the organization. Until now, UCAIR had been a state-run organization dedicated to improving the state’s air quality. Governor Herbert says reorganizing the day-to-day management of UCAIR was always a goal.

“When UCAIR was originally envisioned, it was not going to necessarily a government organization, but we wanted it to become a private non-profit entity and that now has taken place,” says Governor Herbert.

UCAIR’s new board of directors includes Stephen Sands from Kennecott Utah Copper, Allen Matheson, Governor Herbert’s senior environmental adviser and Robin Erickson from Utah Clean Cities.  Shawni McAllister will the non-profit’s new executive director.  She says UCAIR’s priority will continue to be encouraging people to do what they can to improve air quality.

“Every change we make as individuals, businesses, industry, government and communities moves us towards better health, a better economy and an overall better quality of life,” says McAllister.

Dr. Robert Paine from the University of Utah Pulmonary Division will be the board vice chair.  He says a new loan program will encourage businesses to invest in emissions reducing technology.

“The program is designed to encourage thinking and at the same time we want it to be based on solid metrics that show actual pollution reduction,” says Paine.

Governor Herbert believes UCAIR’s transition to non-profit will make the organization more accessible to the public.  

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