New Coalition Proposes Alternative to Governor Herbert's Wood Burning Ban

USA - English

• USA - English

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Utahns for Responsible Burning is a newly formed coalition of citizens, commercial retailers and scientists who are asking to preserve the right to burn wood responsibly in Utah during the winter months. The coalition launched a new website – UtahnsForResponsibleBurning.org – explaining its commitment to lower emission hearth products and better air for Utah.

"We agree that air quality must improve in Utah," noted John Mortensen, who serves as one of the leaders of the coalition and is a local dealer for EPA-certified wood burning stoves, "but Utahns should be able to both breathe cleaner air and burn wood responsibly. The two are not mutually exclusive."

What makes an EPA-certified wood burning stove cleaner than a non-certified wood stove? According to the EPA's website when wood is not completely burned, a complex mixture of gases and particles – wood smoke – is created.  EPA-certified wood stoves are designed with better insulation and improved air flow, so more of the gases and particles are burned inside the stove, resulting in less smoke.

"Modern wood burning heat sources use a sophisticated system of air control to create an optimal burning environment (so the fire burns hotter) and essentially burns the smoke away before it is released into the air, giving off up to 90 percent less smoke and pollutants than older technology using a fraction of the fuel," said John Mortensen.

The coalition asserts that the state can better meet the needs of all people by encouraging and incentivizing the use of low emission hearth products, including wood stoves certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Additionally, Utahns for Responsible Burning proposes a two stage burn program, similar to those successfully implemented in Seattle, Denver and Albuquerque, to help keep emissions down.

"Many other western communities have improved air quality and preserved homeowner rights to heat with wood or pellets by encouraging upgrades to cleaner technology," said John Crouch, Director of Public Affairs for the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association. "Exempting low-emission stoves and inserts from the burn ban, except during mandatory no-burn days, is a common-sense solution for cleaning the air and preserving basic freedoms."

Here's how the two stage program works. During Stage One, when an inversion first starts, local residents are required to stop using all open fireplaces and older uncertified woodstoves, but EPA-certified stoves and pellet stoves may still be used as long as they emit no visible smoke. However if the inversion persists, then officials may declare Stage Two and restrict the use of even EPA-certified stoves and other cleaner burning devices.

A petition, found on the coalition's website, outlines the two stage process as an express alternative to Governor Herbert's proposed comprehensive ban on all wood burning during Utah's inversion season.  It suggests that the Governor's ban would be a disincentive for people to upgrade to more environmentally responsible products.

"A full ban would punish those who have invested in upgrading their wood stoves to EPA-compliant models that burn more cleanly," said Ed Red, a mechanical engineering professor at Brigham Young University.

Upcoming public meetings are scheduled throughout the state of Utah during the month of January to discuss this topic. 

To learn more about the coalition, please visit UtahnsForResponsibleBurning.org or follow on Twitter @SmartBurnUT or on Facebook.

About Utahns for Responsible Burning 
Utahns for Responsible Burning represents concerned citizens who support the responsible use of wood burning in Utah. With backing from manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the fireplace industry, our coalition believes Utah should exempt low-emission stoves, inserts and masonry heaters from Governor Herbert's proposed burning ban as a common-sense solution for cleaning the air and preserving basic freedoms. Rather than outlawing all burning, Utah can better meet the needs of its people by encouraging increased use of low-emission hearth products that give off up to 90% less smoke than older technology.

SOURCE Utahns for Responsible Burning

Related Links

http://utahnsforresponsibleburning.org