Utah regulators OK program meant to promote increased use of renewable energy

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah regulators have given the green light to a new program in the works for seven years that's meant to promote increased use of renewable energy sources to power the state.

The Utah Renewable Communities initiative, rooted in legislation passed by Utah lawmakers in 2019, HB411, calls for the participation of as many as 19 Utah communities in a partnership with Rocky Mountain Power to promote renewable energy. Under the plan, residential Rocky Mountain Power users from the communities that ultimately opt to take part in the initiative would pay an extra $4 a month on their power bills to fund the effort.

The program "creates a new pathway for residents and businesses to support clean energy in our own communities," said Randy Aton, member of the Springdale Town Council in Washington County, one of the 19 communities involved in the effort. "It balances Springdale's sustainability goals with long-term energy needs while making clean energy accessible to more Utahns."

Other communities preliminarily involved include Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Moab, Park City and Ogden, among others. However, the list of communities to actually take part in the initiative has yet to be finalized. The Utah Public Service Commission on March 4 approved Rocky Mountain Power's application to create the Utah Community Clean Energy Program, operated under the umbrella of Utah Renewable Communities.

Now it will be up to elected leaders in the 19 communities to adopt ordinances by June 2 formalizing their intent to take part.

Some environmental advocacy groups have launched efforts to encourage passage of the required ordinances, according to Glade Sowards, "and, as always, residents and business owners can contribute their own perspectives on the program to their elected officials as they deliberate on their decisions." Sowards is the senior energy and climate program manager in the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department and a point person in the city for the program.

While residential customers who decide to take part would pay $4 a month more on their power bills, nonresidential users who take part would pay an extra monthly rate based on energy used plus 12 cents.

"Initially, those funds will be used to build up reserve accounts to ensure that ample funding is available throughout the contract life of these projects, after which funds will be used to directly administer the program and build out new resources," Sowards said. Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Renewable Communities are already investigating acquisition of new clean energy resources.

As HB411 was originally envisioned, the goal for participating communities was to get all their energy from renewable resources by 2030, but that has been relaxed. Changes have also been made to broaden the type of qualifying energy resources and to make sure the guidelines to opt out of the program are clear and easy to follow.

"The program is complex and has necessarily evolved as (Utah Renewable Communities) and Rocky Mountain Power worked on program design and the resulting program application," Sowards said.

In locales that opt to take part in the program and pass the required ordinance by June 2, Rocky Mountain Power customers will automatically be enrolled in the renewable energy program. Customers should receive initial notices about the program in late 2026, and the new fee on their bills will be charged starting in early 2027.

Customers will have a way to opt out, however, and notices outlining that process will also be sent out. During the initial six months of the program, customers will be able to opt out without exit fees. After that, residential customers will have to pay $30 to exit the program.

The 19 communities involved in the initiative are Alta; Castle Valley, Grand County; Coalville; Cottonwood Heights; Francis, Summit County; Grand County; Emigration Canyon; Holladay; Kearns; Midvale; Millcreek; Moab; Oakley, Summit County; Ogden; Park City; Salt Lake City; Salt Lake County; Springdale and Summit County.

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