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On the front lines today at the EPA public hearing about regional haze in Utah's national parks. It seems like all of Carbon County fit in two busloads to represent the interests of the coal power plants. We felt like the underdogs. The outdoor/tourism industries were seriously underrepresented. I've never been so nervous to speak in front of a group. When I started speaking, I could feel the hostility in the air. But I shared my story and the facts. Utah's outdoor recreation and tourism industries bring in $12.2 billion dollars per year. It's important to clean up the air around the parks and reduce the emissions from coal burning power plants. When I was done, hardly anyone clapped. We need to get more young people and outdoor people to come to these things. We need to make signs and speak up. It's our air and our future. It's scary and not always fun, but it's hugely important to protect the quality of life and the Utah we love. At the end, I gave the coal miners a smile and a wave. I came to realize our goals aren't that different. We are both trying to protect our livelihood- our jobs and the lifestyle we know. It's just the path to the future that we disagree on. #cleanair4utah @protectourwinters @healutah @sierraclub
