Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment

08/25/2026

🎨 Art, climate, and community come together this Wednesday at Phillips Gallery.

Phillips Gallery’s sixth annual 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 features artists responding to climate change and its impacts on our communities and environment.

As part of the exhibition, Phillips Gallery is hosting a community forum featuring 𝗨𝗣𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗩𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰, along with speakers from 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 and 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵. The conversation will explore climate action, sustainability, and ways to work toward a better future for Utah.

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴. 𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝟲–𝟳:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺.
📍 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆

Join us for an evening of art, conversation, and ideas for building a more sustainable future.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱? 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀.

08/24/2026

Another company is trying to persuade the Spanish Fork City Council to open the door to another massive data center.

Earlier this month, the Spanish Fork Planning Commission deadlocked 3–3 on whether to recommend proposed ordinance changes that would allow data centers with onsite power generation. That lack of a positive recommendation says a lot, especially given how rarely planning commissions push back on major development proposals.

While this proposal would require some improvements over data center proposals we’ve seen elsewhere in Utah, no city should simply accept a developer’s claims at face value.

There are still too many unanswered questions about 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗙𝗔𝗦 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀.

The Spanish Fork City Council should vote NO on the proposed ordinance changes. There is no reason this decision needs to be rushed simply to accommodate a developer.

The City Council is scheduled to reconsider the proposal at its 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁. 𝟭 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝟲 𝗽.𝗺.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗢 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.

📧 Send your comments to:
[email protected]

08/22/2026

“Our neighborhoods aren’t interested in being a test site.”

Spanish Fork residents turned out this week to push back on an ordinance change that could allow data centers with onsite power generation in light-industrial zones.

After a 6½-hour meeting, including hours of public comment, the Spanish Fork City Council ultimately voted to table the ordinance while council members take more time to consider the proposal.

Residents raised concerns about water use, noise, air pollution, location, independent review and whether the public would continue to have a meaningful voice as projects move forward.

The concerns raised in Spanish Fork echo questions communities across Utah are asking as data center development accelerates: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀? 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲?

UPHE continues to call for greater transparency, meaningful public involvement and strong protections for Utah’s water, air quality, energy resources and communities before major new data center developments move forward.

As one resident urged city leaders:

“𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀.”

🔗 Read the full ABC4 Utah story:
https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/residents-oppose-data-center-spanish-fork/

08/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our Climate Crisis in Utah webinar.

Dr. Brian Moench and Dr. Mark Goldfarb discussed how the climate crisis is already affecting Utah, from extreme heat and wildfire to declining snowpack and Great Salt Lake, and what these changes mean for our health and communities.

They also discussed steps Utahns can take to protect their health and help address the causes of the climate crisis.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿? 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://youtu.be/YUav7R1LGuM

Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked questions, and helped make this an important conversation.

08/19/2026

🌎 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪!

How is the climate crisis already affecting 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵
, and what can we do about it?

Join UPHE President 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 and Climate Ambassador 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗯 tomorrow evening for a science-based look at Utah’s changing climate, including wildfires, declining snowfall, the Great Salt Lake, and the impacts on our health.

We’ll wrap up with a 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤&𝗔, so bring your questions!

📅 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟗
⏰ 𝟔:𝟑𝟎–𝟕:𝟑𝟎 𝐏𝐌
💻 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫

🌎𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿!
🔗https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_puj2l6BAQfaVT2MD9cTQ4w?eType=

Please share with someone who might be interested!

08/18/2026

Tell your friends and neighbors to speak up this week!

📣 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗔 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗛

Several important data center discussions are happening this week at the local and state level, including opportunities for public comment.

𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗔𝗨𝗚. 𝟭𝟴

➡️ 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 will take up the traffic study for the Ackerlow/Tooele Valley PID data center project area. Community members are organizing to urge the County to 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆. 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻.

➡️ At 7 p.m., the 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 will discuss its proposed data center ordinance. (No public comment is scheduled for this item.)

𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗔𝗨𝗚. 𝟭𝟵 - 𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗛 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗠 𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

Three legislative committees will take up data center issues:

🏛️𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. - 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
Data center permitting, power demands, water/energy tradeoffs and economic impacts.

🏛️ 𝟴:𝟯𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. - 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 & 𝗧𝗮𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Data center tax incentives and their effects on state and local revenue.

🏛️ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Environmental considerations and impacts of data centers, with presentations from Utah's air quality, water quality, water rights, wildlife and Great Salt Lake officials.

📣𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮.

With major data center projects moving forward across Utah, these discussions will help shape how the state addresses their impacts on our communities, water, energy, air quality and Great Salt Lake.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘂𝗽.

Agenda links in comments. 👇

08/18/2026

UTAH GROUPS FILE FTC COMPLAINT OVER STATE’S PRO-NUCLEAR AD CAMPAIGN

Yesterday, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment joined 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵 in filing a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over the Utah Office of Energy Development’s taxpayer-funded campaign promoting nuclear energy.

The complaint alleges the campaign uses false, deceptive and misleading comparisons, including claims that nuclear plants emit less radiation than eating a banana, nuclear energy is safer than a candle, and nuclear power is less risky than leftovers or sitting in a chair.

UPHE President 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 called the campaign:

“an insult to science, an insult to empirical evidence and an insult to logic.”

The complaint asks the FTC to investigate the state’s promotional campaign and determine whether enforcement action is warranted.

𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

📰 Read the full story from Utah News Dispatch: https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/08/17/environmental-groups-file-ftc-complaint-against-utahs-pro-nuclear-energy-campaign/

📄 Read more about the complaint on our website: https://www.uphe.org/2026/08/19/activists-file-ftc-complaint-v-utah-office-of-energy-development/

08/18/2026

𝗚𝗢𝗩. 𝗖𝗢𝗫, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘?
Video 7

In 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝟳 of our "𝙂𝙤𝙫. 𝘾𝙤𝙭, 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝘿𝙤 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙒𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙚?" series, Dr. Brian Moench looks at another major problem with the push for nuclear power: water.

Across Europe, extreme heat and drought are shrinking rivers and straining water supplies. Nuclear plants, which depend heavily on water for cooling, have been forced to reduce output or shut down when water levels become too low or water temperatures too high.

Now consider Utah.

We are already facing hotter temperatures, prolonged drought, shrinking water supplies, and the ongoing decline of Great Salt Lake. Yet Utah leaders continue promoting nuclear power as part of the state's energy future.

As the climate crisis makes water increasingly scarce, committing Utah to an energy source with enormous water demands makes little sense.

📞 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘅'𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 (𝟴𝟬𝟭) 𝟱𝟯𝟴-𝟭𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲.

To learn more, read UPHE's 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵, including our full report and additional information about the risks of nuclear power:

https://www.uphe.org/the-case-against-nuclear-power-in-utah/

Watch 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝟳 and share it to help more Utahns understand what's at stake.

08/15/2026

🔥 Wildfires. Declining snowfall. A shrinking Great Salt Lake.

Climate change is a global crisis, but its impacts are already being felt right here in Utah, including effects on our health.

Join Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment for a 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 exploring what climate change means for Utah and the people who live here.

UPHE President Dr. Brian Moench and Climate Ambassador 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗯 will discuss:

🌡️ What’s driving the climate crisis
🔥 How climate change is affecting Utah
🫁 What it means for our health
🏔️ Wildfires, snowfall and Great Salt Lake
🩺 Practical ways to protect your health
🌎 What we can do to reduce the impacts driving the crisis

Whether you're just beginning to learn about climate change or want to deepen your understanding, this webinar will provide practical, science-based information relevant to every Utahn.

Presentations will be followed by a 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤&𝗔.

📅𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟵
⏰ 𝟲:𝟯𝟬–𝟳:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠
💻 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_puj2l6BAQfaVT2MD9cTQ4w?eType=

Please share with someone who might be interested.

08/14/2026

🏔️ Utah Olympians are speaking up for the future of Great Salt Lake - and the snow, communities and outdoor economy that depend on it.

In a new Deseret News op-ed, Olympic skiers Kaylin Richardson, Craig Rodman and Jillian Vogtli warn that the choices Utah makes now will shape whether our state remains a place where people can live, work and thrive outdoors.

Utah’s ski industry contributed $𝟮.𝟱𝟭 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰–𝟮𝟱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, and Great Salt Lake contributes an estimated 𝟱–𝟭𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵’𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸 through lake-effect snow.

But as the lake shrinks, exposed lakebed can send toxic dust into surrounding communities, while dust deposited on mountain snow can accelerate snowmelt and shorten winters.

The Olympians also point to the proposed 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 and the larger wave of industrial development moving through Utah, asking whether current regulatory processes are doing enough to protect the water, air and landscapes Utah’s future depends on.

As they write, preventing additional water consumption is not the same as restoring Great Salt Lake. The lake needs significantly more water reaching it each year.

Utah has worked for decades to become a world-class outdoor destination. We should be just as committed to protecting what made it one.

🔗 Read the full op-ed:
https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/08/08/utah-olympians-taking-a-stand-for-the-future/