If there’s one thing we’re learning in late 2023 and 2024 so far, it’s that the climb out of pollution and climate change isn’t an easy slope that always goes up. Sometimes, there are setbacks and things that don’t move as fast as we’d like. Such a setback recently happened in Utah, as the state cut way back on its goal to get rid of coal-burning power plants.

Originally, two coal-fired plants in Emery County were supposed to be replaced with nuclear power plants, and they were supposed to be retired early. This was a response to the federal Ozone Transport Rule, which aimed to prevent states from planning on sooting and fogging up other states.