On Feb. 25, representatives from Utah Renewable Communities gave city officials an update on the program hoping to encourage South Salt Lake to jump on board in the future.

The URC program is a coalition of 19 municipalities working with Rocky Mountain Power to provide 100% net renewable energy to their residents. These cities are currently “vested” and represent about 25% of Rocky Mountain Power’s Utah sales, with the program currently in the final stages of approval by the Public Service Commission. If approved, the initiative will allow participating cities to match 100% of their community’s annual electricity consumption with new renewable energy projects built specifically for Utah.

“The heart of the program is to drive the development of new clean energy resources at scale in Utah,” said Glade Sowards, Salt Lake City senior energy and climate program manager.

Sowards and Salt Lake City Councilmember and URC Chair Dan Dugan presented the update to the South Salt Lake City Council to illustrate the program's potential impact. 

The program operates on an "opt-out" basis, meaning residents are automatically enrolled in a clean energy rate—projected at a $3-$4 monthly premium for average households—unless they choose to leave. In addition, participating communities make financial contributions to the agency’s budget, calculated in proportion to their population and total energy usage.

The program includes protections for low-income residents, such as bill credits and waived exit fees, Sowards said. 

Beyond the environmental benefits, the program offers long-term price stability by insulating participating cities from the volatility of traditional fossil fuel markets, Sowards said. By investing in regional infrastructure, these municipalities aim to transform the local energy landscape, creating a sustainable model that balances fiscal responsibility with a commitment to long-term climate goals, he added.

Because the program is in a formal regulatory review phase with the Public Service Commission, the window for new cities to join is currently closed. Approval requires precise calculations regarding costs and customer participation and adding a new city now would necessitate restarting the legal process. Still, the two expressed hope that South Salt Lake would become part of the program in the future.

While South Salt Lake did not join during the URC when initially invited in 2019, city leaders expressed renewed interest in a future expansion of participating cities.

"And you know, back in 2019, there was a lot of uncertainty, so we did not jump on this,” said Council Chair Sharla Bynum.

Following the presentation, Councilmember Ray DeWolfe expressed interest, asking how the city could join URC in the future.

Both Dugan and Sowards expressed support for that possibility. 

"Ultimately, I think our goal is to expand the program,” Dugan said. “We just have some issues to think through first...keep in contact with us."