This episode features a conversation with Bryce Bird, director of the Division of Air Quality within the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources within the Department of Natural Resources, and podcast host Pete Codella, Go Utah’s communications director. Go Utah recently announced an Air & Water Innovation Grant. This $10 million grant program incentivizes Utah-based businesses to implement strategic and innovative solutions to address the state’s air quality and water conservation. 

In this episode, Bird discusses what innovations he anticipates seeing from this grant, how Utah’s air quality compares to other metropolitan areas, and his recommendations for residents to improve the state’s air quality. Codella and Bird talk about how the Division of Air Quality addresses Utah’s burgeoning population, the Utah Air Quality app that monitors air quality statewide, and much more.

Next, Hasenyager discusses the measures the Division of Water Quality takes to safeguard Utah's water resources, including conservation, the innovations she hopes to see from the Air & Water Innovation Grant, and her message to all Utahns for preserving the state’s water resources. She also discusses how policy has evolved in the 15 years she has been with the department, balancing the state’s growing population and economy with water resources, the efforts underway in the driest parts of Utah, and much more.

The Air & Water Innovation grant application portal closes on Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. Learn more at business.utah.gov/grants.