2023 Utah Code › Title 79 - Natural Resources › Chapter 6 - Utah Energy Act › Part 3 - State Energy Policy › Section 301 - State energy policy.

Effective 5/3/2023
79-6-301.
State energy policy.
(1) It is the policy of the state that:
(a) Utah shall have adequate, reliable, affordable, sustainable, and clean energy resources;
(b) Utah shall promote the development of:
(i) nonrenewable energy resources, including natural gas, coal, oil, oil shale, and oil sands;
(ii) renewable energy resources, including geothermal, solar, wind, biomass, biofuel, and hydroelectric;
(iii) nuclear power generation technologies certified for use by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission including molten salt reactors producing medical isotopes;
(iv) alternative transportation fuels and technologies;
(v) infrastructure to facilitate energy development, diversified modes of transportation, greater access to domestic and international markets for Utah's resources, and advanced transmission systems;
(vi) energy storage, pumped storage, and other advanced energy systems, including hydrogen from all sources;
(vii) electricity systems that can be controlled at the request of grid operators to meet system load demands, to ensure an adequate supply of dispatchable energy generation resources;
(viii) electricity systems that are stable and capable of serving load without accelerating damage to customer equipment; and
(ix) increased refinery capacity;
(c) Utah shall promote the development of resources and infrastructure sufficient to meet the state's growing demand, while contributing to the regional and national energy supply, thus reducing dependence on international energy sources;
(d) Utah shall promote the development of resources, tools, and infrastructure to enhance the state's ability to:
(i) respond effectively to significant disruptions to the state's energy generation, energy delivery systems, or fuel supplies;
(ii) maintain adequate supply, including reserves of proven and cost-effective dispatchable electricity reserves to meet grid demand; and
(iii) ensure the state's energy independence by promoting the use of energy resources generated within the state;
(e) Utah shall allow market forces to drive prudent use of energy resources, although incentives and other methods may be used to ensure the state's optimal development and use of energy resources in the short- and long-term;
(f) Utah shall pursue energy conservation, energy efficiency, and environmental quality;
(g) Utah shall promote the development of a secure supply chain from resource extraction to energy production and consumption;
(h)
(i) state regulatory processes should be streamlined to balance economic costs with the level of review necessary to ensure protection of the state's various interests; and
(ii) where federal action is required, Utah will encourage expedited federal action and will collaborate with federal agencies to expedite review;
(i) Utah shall maintain an environment that provides for stable consumer prices that are as low as possible while providing producers and suppliers a fair return on investment, recognizing that:
(i) economic prosperity is linked to the availability, reliability, and affordability of consumer energy supplies; and
(ii) investment will occur only when adequate financial returns can be realized;
(j) Utah shall promote training and education programs focused on developing a comprehensive understanding of energy, including:
(i) programs addressing:
(A) energy conservation;
(B) energy efficiency;
(C) supply and demand; and
(D) energy related workforce development; and
(ii) energy education programs in grades kindergarten through grade 12; and
(k) Utah shall promote the use of clean energy sources by considering the emissions of an energy resource throughout the entire life cycle of the energy resource.
(2) State agencies are encouraged to conduct agency activities consistent with Subsection (1).
(3) A person may not file suit to challenge a state agency's action that is inconsistent with Subsection (1).
Amended by Chapter 186, 2023 General Session
Amended by Chapter 195, 2023 General Session