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Emery County adopts resolution opposing utility-scale solar on federal and state lands
Summary
After debate over economic opportunities and scenic and land-use impacts, commissioners adopted a resolution opposing large-scale solar development on federal and state lands within Emery County while noting the county's general plan and exceptions for "good solar use."
The Emery County Board of Commissioners voted April 1 to adopt a resolution opposing utility-scale solar development on federal and state lands in the county.
The proposed resolution cites state code (Utah Code 17-53-01 and 17-53-02) and references the Bureau of Land Management's 2024 utility-scale solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement / Resource Management Plan Amendment (PEIS/RMPA), which county staff said could open applications on more than 200,000 acres in Emery County. The resolution expresses the commission's opposition to further development of solar farms on federal and state lands in Emery County while noting that the county's general plan allows some solar development when it is a "good solar use."
Commissioners debated the resolution's scope. One commissioner noted potential job creation from a proposed data center that could be powered by on-site solar and said he would not want to block such investments; other commissioners and members of the public voiced particular concern about SITLA parcels at the base of Cedar Mountain and the cumulative visual and land-use effects of large solar arrays.
Commissioner (speaker 8) moved to adopt the resolution opposing solar farms on federal and state lands; a second was recorded and the motion passed by voice vote. Supporters said the resolution communicates a county stance for federal and state agencies to consider in planning reviews; opponents urged caution so as not to foreclose all forms of renewable investment on state lands.
Next steps: the county will publish the adopted resolution as its formal position for agencies and will convey that stance to any stakeholders or applicants engaging the BLM or SITLA planning processes.
