Cleaner fuels, cleaner air: An Earth Day message from Joe Cannon

Just before Earth Day in 1970, Edward Cole, then president of General Motors, promised pollution free cars by 1980.

I call Utah home, and all I have to do is look out my window to tell you we’re not there yet. Half of all air pollution in the U.S. still comes from vehicles burning gasoline and diesel, and it doesn’t have to be that way.

The first Earth Day was a teach-in, where people got together to learn about our impact on the environment and encourage lawmakers to take action. In that spirit, I invite you to celebrate Earth Day this year by learning more about how fuel choice helps fight pollution:

Check out the Environment section of our website.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets back in 1970 to raise awareness. Their concern and passion led to the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (where I was head of the air quality division in the early 1980s).

There’s still a lot of work to do, but together we can take the next big step in caring for ourselves, our families, and the environment we call home.

It helps to be well-informed. So take a few minutes to read up on pollution and cleaner fuels.

Let us know what you think, and if you’re so inspired, tell a friend.

And have a happy Earth Day.

Joe Cannon is the president and CEO of Fuel Freedom Foundation. Cannon brings a wide array of leadership experience in government, law, business and journalism to the building of fuel freedom for America. He served as editor of the Deseret News, the leading newspaper in Utah. Prior to Deseret, he was a partner and co-leader of the Public Practice & Political Law practice team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Joe played a pivotal role in the purchase of Geneva Steel (a steel mill in Vineyard, Utah) and the reopening of the plant in 1987. He served as chief executive officer and chairman until 2001. From 1981 to 1985, he served in the Reagan administration as an assistant administrator in the Environmental Protection Agency, first for policy and resource management and later for air and radiation. Joe received his undergraduate and law degree from Brigham Young University.