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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Peter Corroon is proposing a rebate program for those who trade in older cars for lower-emission vehicles as part of his plan to clean up Utah's environment.
Corroon released his environmental plan Thursday, saying Utah Gov. Gary Herbert hasn't done enough to improve the state's frequently dirty air or ward off other environmental threats.
"I just don't think there's a commitment there. I think our current governor sees economic development and preserving our quality of life and the environment differently, where I think you can have both. You don't need to choose one over the other," he said.
Herbert campaign spokesman Don Olsen disputed that assertion, saying Herbert believes protecting the environment and promoting economic development are related.
"We could not agree more with Mr. Corroon that quality of life and economic development are not mutually exclusive. It's part of the governor's plan now, it was part of his predecessor's plan and is going to be part of the governor's plan in the future," Olsen said.
Corroon did not say how large a rebate he is proposing or how he would pay for it. However, his plan does reference a similar program in California that offers $1,000 per vehicle to those failing a smog check when funds are available.
Other parts of environmental proposals were more detailed.
Corroon is calling for raising air quality standards so that cars sold in Utah would be required to be 30 percent more efficient, on average, by 2016. Most of Utah's air quality problems are caused by automobiles. In the winter, it is not uncommon for northern Utah to be home to worst the air quality in the nation.
Corroon's plan also calls for promoting "buy local" programs that would reduce vehicle emissions. He's advocating for free or reduced-fare bus routes to farmers' markets on market days as well as increasing efforts to link residents to local farm products.
Other parts of his plan to improve air quality include ensuring connectivity between new highway and public transit systems, expanding trail systems for walking and bicycling, and converting as many state-owned vehicles as possible to run on compressed natural gas.
Corroon believes Herbert is vulnerable on environmental issues and stepped up his criticism of the first-year governor on Thursday, saying Herbert's environmental record deserves a grade of C or D.
He said Herbert failed to lead when it came to opposing the disposal of depleted uranium in the state's western desert without proper environmental assurances, was too willing to give up valuable water rights to Nevada and was mistaken to veto a bill that would have automatically enrolled power customers in a power-saving program.
Olsen said Corroon failed to mention that Herbert supports the "Cool Keeper" program and encourages its use, but he just opposed requiring customers to sign up for it.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
