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Utah regulators hear broad public support and targeted concerns at Rocky Mountain Power hearing on community renewable program
Summary
Dozens of Utah residents, local officials and advocacy groups urged the Utah Public Service Commission to approve Rocky Mountain Power’s Utah Renewable Communities (URC) program, citing cleaner air, jobs and up to 300 MW of new capacity; commenters also raised questions about program costs, valuation of renewable energy credits and opt-out communications.
The Utah Public Service Commission heard more than 50 public comments Dec. 21 on Rocky Mountain Power’s application to implement the Utah Renewable Communities (URC) program under HB 411, with elected officials, nonprofit groups and residents urging approval while flagging questions about costs and outreach.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall of Salt Lake City, appearing remotely, said the URC is “absolutely critical” to municipal and community goals the city has adopted and urged the Commission to approve a program that starts with reasonable initial rates to keep the effort viable. “Without a cleaner grid, we simply cannot reach our goals in these other important sectors,” Mendenhall said.
Supporters — including anchor communities and county sustainability staff — told the Commission the voluntary program would give residents and local governments a choice about where electricity comes from, lower pollution and help capture federal tax incentives that are soon expiring. Emily Quinton, sustainability director for Summit County, described interlocal cooperation among 19 participating communities and asked the Commission to approve a program that is “fair and affordable.” Rachel Chamberlain, an environmental scientist with the Utah Division of Air Quality (speaking as an individual), cited the division’s Comprehensive Beehive Emissions Reduction Plan and said URC deployment could materially reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions.
Speakers also urged the Commission to ensure the program does not shift costs onto nonparticipants and to protect low-income ratepayers. Several commenters asked the Commission to require clear, timely notices so residents can exercise the program’s opt-out option. Tiani Tonga of Weber County pointed to a reporting detail in an Ogden survey (final sample: 669 respondents) and said public outreach must be improved so residents can make informed choices.
A small but pointed set of comments focused on how Rocky Mountain Power will value and account for new resources. Joan Entwistle, a Summit County resident, questioned charging participants for what she described as “lost RECs” (transcript rendered the phrase as “lost wrecks”), arguing customers should not shoulder costs for resources the utility does not plan to build. Multiple commenters emphasized the importance of how the utility values new clean energy resources and how administrative costs and REC valuation practices affect affordability.
Nonprofit groups including HEAL Utah and public-health professionals framed the program as a public-health measure, saying renewable generation will reduce harmful particulates and related health risks. Speakers also noted potential local job growth and economic benefits from bringing new projects online quickly.
The Commission accepted in-person and online testimony and encouraged parties to submit written comments to the docket. Chair Jerry Phan closed the evening’s hearing but left the docket open for further filings as the Commission continues to review the URC application.
The record shows widespread public support for the URC program paired with recurring implementation questions about program rates, REC valuation, opt-out procedures and protections for vulnerable ratepayers. The Commission will weigh those issues as part of the formal docket proceeding.
