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The Debate Over The Utah Inland Port

Renee Bright / KUER

Thursday, we’re talking about the Utah Inland Port. Proponents say it’s the economic opportunity of a lifetime, but opponents say, not so fast. We’ll talk about where the port idea comes from and ask, is this a done deal?

RadioWest divider.

Thursday, we’re talking about the Utah Inland Port. You may have heard about it by now. Last year, legislators passed a bill that established a port authority here in landlocked Utah. Proponents say it’s a unique economic opportunity, that it will bring jobs and connect the state directly to the flow of international trade. But opponents say, not so fast. They have a long list of concerns from air quality to tax revenue. We’ll talk about where the port idea comes from and ask, is this a done deal?

GUESTS

  • Benjamin Bombard is a RadioWest producer.
  • Chris Conabee is the interim director of the Utah Inland Port.
  • Deeda Seed is an organizer for the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental advocacy group. She's also a member of the community group Stop the Polluting Inland Port.
    Protesters Shut Down Inland Port Meeting A monthly inland port meeting lasted just 15 minutes before it was canceled because of disruptive protesters Wednesday afternoon. About two dozen people interrupted proceedings at the meeting with chants of "No inland port!" and "Abort the port!" before board chairman Derek Miller called a brief recess.
Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.