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House approves energy bill setting 20% renewable target for utilities by 2025
Summary
The Utah House passed First Substitute Senate Bill 202, the Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative (67-2), which encourages utilities to obtain 20% of adjusted retail sales from cost-effective renewable energy by 2025 and includes extra credit for new solar projects.
The Utah House approved First Substitute Senate Bill 202 on March 3 on a 67-2 vote. Representative David Clark, the House sponsor, said the bill grew from the governor’s Clean Air initiative and the Blue Ribbon Clean Air Group, and reflected months of stakeholder meetings among utilities, generators, clean-air groups and the governor’s office.
Representative Clark outlined four objectives: diversify electric generation resources, reduce or avoid greenhouse-gas emissions, improve air quality and promote economic development in the state. He said the bill establishes a target for electrical utilities to supply 20% of adjusted retail sales from cost-effective renewable energy by 2025, encourages energy-efficiency programs to reduce demand and offers extra credit for new solar projects built in Utah.
Clark also said the bill builds in protections to ensure renewable projects are cost-effective and avoids strict mandatory schedules, preferring market mechanisms and incentives. Following brief questions, the House voted to pass the bill; the measure will be returned to the Senate for its signature.
Next steps: SB202 is referred to the Senate for signature and implementation details will follow in administrative rulemaking and utility procurement processes.
