1     
STATE ENERGY POLICY AMENDMENTS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Keith Grover

5     
House Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the state energy policy.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     adds to the state energy policy the promotion of certain nuclear power generation
13     technologies;
14          ▸     adds to the state energy policy the promotion of energy development in certain
15     areas;
16          ▸     adds to the state energy policy the promotion of energy education programs in
17     grades K-12; and
18          ▸     makes technical changes.
19     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20          None
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          None
23     Utah Code Sections Affected:
24     AMENDS:
25          63M-4-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 378
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28          Section 1. Section 63M-4-301 is amended to read:
29          63M-4-301. State energy policy.
30          (1) It is the policy of the state that:
31          (a) Utah shall have adequate, reliable, affordable, sustainable, and clean energy
32     resources;
33          (b) Utah will promote the development of:
34          (i) nonrenewable energy resources, including natural gas, coal, oil, oil shale, and oil
35     sands; [and]
36          (ii) renewable energy resources, including geothermal, solar, wind, biomass, biofuel,
37     and hydroelectric;
38          (iii) nuclear power generation technologies certified for use by the United States
39     Nuclear Regulatory Commission including molten salt reactors producing medical isotopes;
40          (iv) alternative transportation fuels and technologies; [and]
41          (v) infrastructure to facilitate energy development [and], diversified modes of
42     transportation, greater access to domestic and international markets for Utah's resources, and
43     advanced transmission systems;
44          (vi) energy storage and other advanced energy systems; and
45          (vii) increased refinery capacity;
46          (c) Utah will promote the development of resources and infrastructure sufficient to
47     meet the state's growing demand, while contributing to the regional and national energy supply,
48     thus reducing dependence on international energy sources;
49          (d) Utah will allow market forces to drive prudent use of energy resources, although
50     incentives and other methods may be used to ensure the state's optimal development and use of
51     energy resources in the short- and long-term;
52          (e) Utah will pursue energy conservation, energy efficiency, and environmental quality;
53          (f) (i) state regulatory processes should be streamlined to balance economic costs with
54     the level of review necessary to ensure protection of the state's various interests; and
55          (ii) where federal action is required, Utah will encourage expedited federal action and
56     will collaborate with federal agencies to expedite review;
57          (g) Utah will maintain an environment that provides for stable consumer prices that are
58     as low as possible while providing producers and suppliers a fair return on investment,
59     recognizing that:
60          (i) economic prosperity is linked to the availability, reliability, and affordability of
61     consumer energy supplies; and
62          (ii) investment will occur only when adequate financial returns can be realized; and
63          (h) Utah will promote training and education programs focused on developing a
64     comprehensive understanding of energy, including:
65          (i) programs addressing:
66          [(i)] (A) energy conservation;
67          [(ii)] (B) energy efficiency;
68          [(iii)] (C) supply and demand; and
69          [(iv)] (D) energy related workforce development[.]; and
70          [(v)] (ii) energy education programs in grades K-12.
71          (2) State agencies are encouraged to conduct agency activities consistent with
72     Subsection (1).
73          (3) A person may not file suit to challenge a state agency's action that is inconsistent
74     with Subsection (1).