In Zion National Park, ‘the Smog Is Gone’
In Zion National Park, ‘the Smog Is Gone’ Our Electrifying World is a series about how electrification is creating a more sustainable energy transition. It is sponsored by Rewiring America. B eneath red temples of Navajo sandstone, the Virgin River winds through Zion National Park. Nearby, a steady current of people step into a long shuttle line. A bus quietly rolls into the stop, the door opens, 90 people swiftly board. After the bus rolls away, the line continues to lengthen. Another bus arrives five minutes later; the flow resumes. The buses are part of the new electric shuttle system transforming the visitor experience at Zion. The park first launched its shuttle system in 2000 to address the 2.4 million annual visitors that have since grown to five million. To further reduce traffic and benefit visitors and wildlife, through reduced emissions and noise pollution, Zion transitioned to an all-electric fleet of 30 buses in 2024. Approximately 21 to 27 buses are on the road at a time. Cre…
