Utah Renewable Communities Drive Renewable Power Transition

Utah Renewable Communities, a coalition of 19 cities, towns and counties—including Salt Lake City, Coalville and Park City—has an agreement with Rocky Mountain Power to add solar and wind projects that will offset roughly 300,000 homes and businesses. Residents will pay a $4 monthly fee, with low-income exemptions, and must adopt local ordinances by June 2. The Public Service Commission approved the plan; the coalition expects its first project this summer and full power by 2030.

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Coalition leaders include Emily Quinton, Summit County sustainability director; Rep. Steve Handy, author of the 2019 collaboration law; Park City’s Luke Cartin, lands and sustainability director; and Castle Valley council member Pamela Gibson. The plan targets 300,000 homes, about 22 % of Utah’s electricity demand.

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Quinton says action can endure despite the Trump administration’s halt of federal climate programs and the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s removal of tax incentives. Handy stresses Utah’s growing data-center, AI and EV load needs. PacifiCorp’s David Eskelsen notes the Act forced a project rollback. Borenstein calls the coalition a leadership model.

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Critics cite pushback in coal-dependent towns worried about mining jobs and argue a single regional program cannot stop global climate change. PacifiCorp’s retreat from new renewable builds underscores corporate risk concerns.

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Quinton highlights Coalville’s coal heritage. Cartin cites the warm winter and heat waves as a catalyst. Gibson says residents seek protection from drying, warming conditions.

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The plan’s megawatt capacity and $4-fee cost breakdown are undisclosed; participation rates per jurisdiction are unclear.

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• “Not just the coal that was mined here, but we're in a state of Utah where the state rock is coal.” — Emily Quinton, Sustainability Director, Summit County

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• “it shows us that at the local level, you can continue to move on climate strategies regardless of the federal winds.” — Emily Quinton, Sustainability Director, Summit County

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• “But I've been so impressed this whole time that we have functioned, I would say, very well as a collaborative.” — Emily Quinton, Sustainability Director, Summit County

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• “But if we all get together, it's drops of water in a big pond. And we can eventually fill it up.” — Pamela Gibson, Town Council Member, Castle Valley

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• “They can build momentum from towns to counties to states and ultimately to the federal government, if it can be shown to be cost-effective.” — Severin Borenstein, Faculty Director, UC Berkeley Energy Institute

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Local ordinances must be filed by June 2; the first renewable project will be announced this summer, with power by 2030.

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