Air Quality

Improving our air quality is a complex issue. Our unique geography traps pollution easily, making it a year-round health concern. While the City can’t regulate industry pollution (that’s the State’s job), we take action where we can, offer rebates to residents through the Clean Air SLC program, and encourage everyone to do their part. Other work includes the Idle-free Ordinance, electrifying the City’s fleet, and working with partners to increase access to public transportation.

Learn more about local air quality issues, the City’s efforts to improve the airshed, and steps you can take to help.

2025 Accomplishments

• Launched the second year of residential yard care equipment incentive program:
  • A landscaping equipment exchange was launched in April 2025. The program offered vouchers to help residents switch from gas-powered equipment to battery-powered lawn mowers and handheld tools (string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, chainsaws, and leaf blowers).
    
    
  • In Fall 2025, we hosted another round of the landscaping equipment exchange. That round included snowblowers and handheld tools.
    
    
  • Both rounds of the program resulted in 4,857 pounds of air pollution (VOC and NOx) removed annually from our airshed. This is equivalent to removing 800 vehicles from the roads.
    
    
  • Metrics from the equipment exchanges in 2025 include:

2025 Statistics

• Presented a detailed assessment and recommendations from the Internal Electrified Fleet Study. The study provides detailed analyses of opportunities to electrify the City’s municipal vehicle fleet, including department-by-department assessments of EV charging infrastructure needs and costs. The study results were shared with the City Council in a work session on October 7, 2025.

• In Fiscal Year 2025-26, we supported the Public Services Department’s successful funding request from the Capital Improvement Program to install charging infrastructure at the Public Safety Building.

• Presented a detailed assessment and recommendations from the completed Community Transportation Electrification Study. The study evaluated opportunities to support electrified transportation for the community, including: household personal vehicles, transit, and innovative mobility options such as rideshare and carshare. The study also documented 19 priority opportunities across four categories for electrified transportation.

• Received an award from the American Planning Association – Utah chapter for outstanding public outreach while completing the community electrified transportation study.

• Installed four new publicly-accessible EV chargers. Locations include Rosewood Park, Riverside Park, 200 South 150 East, 200 South 300 West. These locations bring the total number of City-owned EV chargers to 27. We are also leveraging Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) grant funding to expand charging infrastructure on 500 South.

• Finalized a donation agreement to receive up to 100 chargers over the next five years from a local startup called Grid Elevated. The pilot locations are being deployed this winter (2025/2026) at Glendale Regional Park and the City Library parking garage.

• Launched the pilot Indoor Air Quality program in April 2025. We approved 75 applications, with approximately half residing in Districts 1 and 2. We distributed:
  • 52 high efficiency HVAC filters
  • 70 indoor air purifiers
  • 5 plug-in induction cooktops
  • The program also includes an education component. We send monthly newsletters to participants with tips to improve their indoor air quality.

2026 Priorities

• Continue to implement recommendations of the Community Electrified Transportation Study, including:
  • Update the EV-readiness ordinance requiring the installation of charging infrastructure for additional private property types.
    
    
  • Work with the Public Services Department to propose fees for use of City-owned chargers. This would help ease congestion, encourage charger turn-over, and financially support the program.
    
    
  • Continue to provide incentives and opportunities for residents to exchange gas-powered yard care equipment for electric options.
    
    
  • Collaborate with the Public Services Department to install EV charging infrastructure at the Public Safety Building to support the City’s electric fleet.