1     
STATE ENERGY POLICY AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht

5     
Senate Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the state energy policy.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     amends the state energy policy to include a policy of developing energy resources
13     with the intent to:
14               •     promote the development of pumped storage and advanced energy systems
15     including hydrogen;
16               •     respond to disruptions in state energy resources; and
17               •     maintain reserves in case of disruptions.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          63M-4-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 415
25     

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