Utah's Clean Energy Future is under threat
As we navigate the 2024 Legislative Session, it’s crucial to spotlight bills that could significantly impact Utah’s clean energy future. Unfortunately these efforts could undermine the progress Utah has made transitioning to renewable sources, affecting our access to clean air, our investment in family-sustaining green jobs, and advancement of a clean energy economy.
The Current Legislative Landscape
During this legislative session, many of Utah’s lawmakers are proposing legislation to reinforce coal-fired power plants and fossil fuel production despite the need to shift to renewable energy. Three bills in particular would protect fossil fuel production at the expense of cleaner alternatives. If these bills get passed, Utah would be moving against national trends that show that 92% of new generators expected to come online in the next year will come from wind, solar, and batteries. We cannot let Utah’s energy economy move in the wrong direction.
- S.B. 224 creates a cost recovery mechanism that would let a utility like Rocky Mountain Power recover costs for power plants in order to keep them running even after neighboring states stop paying for those facilities as they pursue renewable energy.
H.B. 48 modifies the duties of the Office of Energy Development, including calling for it to push back on federal energy policies in order to protect state interests. This bill could impede Utah’s progress toward clean energy as the state continues to invest primarily in fossil fuel production.
H.B. 374 modifies state energy policy and establishes priorities for investment and importance to the state. Unfortunately, this bill places affordability, sustainability, and clean at the bottom of the list.
The Impact on Utah
The emphasis on fossil fuels not only puts Utah’s air quality and public health at risk, it misses opportunities for significant investment in clean energy. The push to prohibit retirement of coal plants and failure to invest in newer technologies challenges Utah’s ability to transition to more sustainable and innovative energy solutions. In the end, these bills could have the unintended consequence of raising electricity prices, making our access to energy less reliable by focusing on a single resource, and detering investments in promising clean energy technologies. The results could harm Utah’s economy and environmental future.
Why This Matters
The focus on coal overlooks Utah’s potential to lead the nation in developing renewable energy sources and ensuring that investments in clean energy create family-sustaining jobs. Furthermore, it ignores the urgent need to address climate change and the devastating consequences of air pollution, wildfires, drought and extreme heat on communities. Utah has the potential to lead in renewable energy innovation. By passing legislation that makes Utah’s energy reliant on coal rather than diversifying the state’s energy portfolio, our representatives run the risk of making Utah less, not more, energy independent.
Take Action!
CLOSED: Contact Your Lawmakers: Find your local representatives and urge them to vote NO on the bills highlighted above (S.B. 224, H.B. 48, H.B. 374). Express your concerns about how these bills could negatively impact Utah’s clean energy future, air quality, and economic opportunities.
- Spread the Word: Share this alert with friends, family, and your network. The more people are aware of these threats, the stronger our collective voice.
- Stay Informed: Follow HEAL Utah for updates and further actions you can take to protect our environment and community.
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