SALT LAKE CITY - No wood burning from November to March? The trial balloon from Utah Governor Gary Herbert (pictured) went up this week to kick off what will be a contentious debate in the Beehive State. As reported in the Salt Lake Tribune, Herbert’s goal is to alleviate the Wasatch Front’s wintertime air pollution, specifically by banning the use of wood-burning devices.

“Not just during inversions, when tiny particles concentrate in the valleys, but every day from November to March,” writes Brian Maffly. “The Utah Air Quality Board on Wednesday voted to explore the idea, thus opening a public comment period on Jan. 1. Hearings will be held in each of the seven northern Utah counties affected by the proposed ban.”

“Through the public process and research we can come up with a sound and workable policy,” said Alan Matheson, the governor’s environmental policy adviser in the Tribune. “We are serious about cleaning up the air and recognizing the hazards of wood smoke. We need to emphasize pubic health over ambiance.”

According to Maffly, wood smoke has been implicated as a contributor to the fine particulate, or PM2.5, that degrades Wasatch Front air quality, although it pales in comparison to emissions from automobiles and industrial sources. Still, the governor’s air quality task force sees wood as “low-hanging fruit” that can yield big air quality benefits if burning is reduced.

“I’m really excited about this. I can’t wait to hear the public feedback,” said board member Erin Mendenhall, a Salt Lake City Council member and policy director of Breathe Utah in the Tribune article. “There is a need for robust discussion around this.”

On the other side of the debate, Maffly writes: “The stove industry has invested heavily in improving the efficiency and reducing emission from its products, industry representatives say. As an alternative to a full ban, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association urges a two-stage ban that is more restrictive on older, more-polluting stoves.

“It would be good to encourage upgrading to cleaner technology, allowing some carrot instead of all stick to reduce emissions related to wood burning,” said Utah wholesaler John Mortensen, who owns Energy Distribution Systems in the Tribune. “An open fireplace emits 20 times more than an EPA-compliant stove. If you stick an insert into a fireplace you have cut its emissions by 95 percent. That makes more sense than an all out ban.”