Guide to Utah Legislature

NEW! The bill tracker has the nitty gritty on bills affecting the environment from the recently-concluded 2008 General Session.

Click here to find out who your Utah senators and representatives are.  Check out the Salt Lake County Clerk's web site to find out who your federal representative and senator are.

Are you angry about the actions of the Utah Legislature this year, or maybe just curious? Find out how your Utah state  or  voted on the environment in our Utah Legislator Scorecard.
2008 scorecard for Utah Representatives
2008 scorecard for Utah Senators
2007 scorecard for Utah Representatives
2007 scorecard for Utah Senators
2006 scorecard for Utah Representatives
2006 scorecard for Utah Senators
2004 scorecard for Utah Representatives
2004 scorecard for Utah Senators
2003 scorecard for Utah Representatives
2003 scorecard for Utah Senators
2002 scorecard for Utah Representatives
2002 scorecard for Utah Senators

We want to help you keep track of legislation that affects the environment.  If you want to a write a letter to the editor or send a message to your US Representative or Senators, click here.

Read a summary of the 2008 General Session of the Utah Legislature and find out how it affected the environment.

Read a summary of the 2007 General Session of the Utah Legislature and find out how it affected the environment.

Read a summary of the 2006 General Session of the Utah Legislature and find out how it affected the environment.

Read a summary of the 2005 General Session of the Utah Legislature and find out how it affected the environment.

Read a summary of the 2004 General Session of the Utah Legislature and have a look at the list of bills that affected the environment.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP! In 2004 the legislature provided a sales tax exemption for machinery and equipment used to generate electricity from renewables. But we need to provide a stronger stimulus for renewable energy. It's time for a Renewable Portfolio Standard that mandates 10% of electricity in Utah will come from renewable sources by the year 2015. Use the form below to send a message to Representative Sheryl Allen. Allen is co-chair of the Legislative Energy Task Force and is interested in this issue. Remember that honey will win more friends than vinegar

Dear Representative Allen, Thank you for your leadership in getting passed the sales tax exemption for machinery and equipment used to generate electricity from renewable sources. That legislation is one building block to create a flourishing renewable energy sector in Utah. The next step--and it's an important one--is to establish a renewable portfolio standard to establish a minimum threshold for renewable energy in Utah's electricity supply. I urge you to establish a firm goal of 10% by 2015. Among our neighbors, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico all have renewable portfolio standards. But it's probably in Texas where they've made the most progress. Texas has had a renewables standard in place for several years, and the industry has flourished. The first milestone of the legislation was to have 400 MW in place by the end of 2002. Instead they had over 900. This impressive success was due in large part to how financially competitive wind power is. (See the Union of Concerned Scientists web site, http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=47) Many of the benefits of the renewable energy industry will accrue to the states that have strong potential for renewable energy AND that promote a supportive framework before their neighbors. Utah has taken an important first step. I encourage you to help make Utah a leader by sponsoring renewable portfolio standard legislation in the 2007 session. Sincerely

Sincerely,
Name:
E-mail:

(Your email address will NOT be sold, traded or otherwise revealed to anyone else.)

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