The Spectrum

The nonprofit organization Utah Clean Energy believes the state could look forward to a lot more renewable energy if House Bill 145 successfully makes its way through the Legislature.

Sponsored by Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George, the bill removes regulations on third-party suppliers of renewable energy in Utah. With an abundance of tax credits offered to renewable energy projects, those companies then would be able to offer their services to nonprofit and government entities at a low cost.
Utah Clean Energy Executive Director Sarah Wright said more than 90 percent of large solar systems in the United States are funded by third parties, and without these new rules Utah would be missing out on new business and cheaper, renewable energy.

"(Currently), if you were a company you might be interpreted to be a public utility," she said, adding that strict public utility regulations keep many energy businesses out of the state. "They won't even look at Utah unless this gets fixed."

But with HB-145, Wright said, companies would be able to supply renewable energy to nonprofit or government entities without worrying about being classified as a public utility.

That's good news to Hurricane-based company Natural Resource Generators.
"If it goes through it would definitely make a difference," said owner Drew Blad. "It means I could get some business. Right now it's dead. Everything just slowed down."

During a debate on the House floor last week, Last told fellow legislators that Utah's already low power costs haven't made the state very attractive to renewable energy, something he hopes the bill may change.

Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, responded that though he supports the bill, there could be some downsides. If big entities like schools begin using more renewable sources of energy and less traditional power, there is a chance utility companies could raise rates to keep up their infrastructure.

"If it becomes very popular, and we see some of the load coming off the utilities, would that cost be shifted to the consumer?" he asked. "I'm concerned that if this does become popular there is a way for those of us who don't have the opportunity (to utilize the program) to bear that cost."

Last acknowledged the possibility of prices going up but didn't think things would be affected in the immediate future.
"I don't think it's that big of an issue right now," he said.

Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson Margaret Oler said her organization is neutral when it comes to the bill as long as it only applies to non-profit and government entities.

As for any future rate hikes it may bring about, Oler wouldn't speculate on what could happen.

"I don't have a crystal ball," she said. "I don't know what would be proposed or what the circumstances would