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Energy:
Renewable Energy Provisions

Our Position: support
Bill Number: sb173
Sponsor: Sen Scott McCoy (D-Salt Lake City)
Legislative Session: 2008 General Session

Status

This bill faces substantial resistance from electricity-industry giant Rocky Mountain Power so it would need a big shove from the public to get very far.  The powerful rules committee assigned it to the workforce services committee on Jan 31st. 

A number of changes made to the bill originally filed were incorporated into a substitute bill offered to the committee.  These changes accommodated some of the criticisms made against the bill.  All municipally-owned utilities were exempted from the renewable manadates, for example. 

McCoy's substitute bill was heard by the Senate Workforce Services and Community & Economic Development Committee on February 15th.  Excellent testimony was offered to describe the bill's advantages, but it didn't make much impact.  The senators representing the majority side were determined only to support the industry-sponsored bill, SB202, that will be heard in committee on Monday, 18 Feb.

The vote was 1-4-1.  Fife voted for.  All four Republican senators voted against.  Senator Jones was not present for the vote.  If your senator is a member of the workforce services committee and voted against, please call to ask him to reconsider.  It would still be possible to offer this bill as a substitute on the senate floor when SB 202 is considered.  Members of the committee are listed below.

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Background

The bill text to be presented to the Senate Workforce Services Committee is evolving.  It's reported that the renewable energy development zones task force will be omitted because similar language is included in a bill sponsored by Senator Stowell. Here are the details about SB 173.

Sets a standard of 25% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2025--26 states, including our neighbors in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico already have similar standards in place.

Puts a clear plan in place to get us from 3% renewable energy now to 25% by 2025--Just as we couldn’t raise test scores in our schools without incremental goals, SB 173 encourages a 5% renewables standard by 2012, 15% by 2016, 20% by 2021, and 25% by 2026.

Encourages rural economic development in Utah--SB 173 establishes a Renewable Energy Development Zone Task Force to identify and bring online key renewable energy development zones in Utah, most of which lie in rural areas.

Attracts clean energy jobs and investment to our state--With our enormous potential, a renewable energy standard will enable Utah to tap into the booming clean energy market and bring jobs and investment to our state.

Protects ratepayers--“Off-ramps” are included for utilities if proposed renewable projects become too costly.

Diversifies our energy portfolio--Just like you didn’t invest your retirement savings solely in Enron stock (hopefully!), we don’t want to invest our future in one energy source. A diverse energy portfolio means stability for our economy and our energy supply.

Renewable means renewable--SB 173 does not let non-renewable energy like coal with carbon sequestration or nuclear power reduce the 25% goal.

Thanks to John Urgo for this summary.