16 Utah Cities Choose 100% Clean Energy for Residents

After ten years of community organizing and advocacy, sixteen Utah cities and counties have made clean energy choice a reality for their residents.

The Utah Renewable Communities program wrapped up its 90-day adoption period on June 2 when Midvale became the final city to vote unanimously in favor. This first-of-its-kind initiative will bring net-100% renewable energy to the grid, giving thousands of Rocky Mountain Power customers control over where their electricity comes from.

The participating communities span across Utah, from Salt Lake City and Ogden to smaller towns like Alta, Moab, and Park City. Together, they represent hundreds of thousands of residents who will soon have access to clean energy without having to lift a finger.

Week after week, residents packed city council meetings to advocate for their energy future. Their persistence paid off through a long journey that started with utility negotiations in 2016, continued with bipartisan legislation in 2019, and involved countless hearings and votes over seven years.

The program launches near the end of 2026, when Rocky Mountain Power will send notices to eligible customers. Residents will be automatically enrolled but can opt out anytime if they choose.

The cost is straightforward: $4 per month for residential customers, with no charge for qualifying low-income households. This flat fee makes clean energy accessible regardless of how much electricity a family uses.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond cleaner air, this program creates tangible economic benefits for Utah communities. Renewable energy projects generate good-paying local jobs, support state economies through tax revenue, and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.

The initiative also demonstrates what grassroots organizing can accomplish. A coalition of organizations including Utah Clean Energy, Climate Utah, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, and Utah Youth Environmental Solutions supported residents every step of the way.

Luis Miranda from Sierra Club captured the moment perfectly: "Utahns across the state have been organizing for a decade to make energy choice a reality." Without this sustained community effort, Utah wouldn't see any new clean energy investment for the next 20 years.

Carmen Valdez from HEAL Utah noted the timing matters too. At a moment when some state leaders push back against renewables, these communities prove that clean energy solutions exist today, deploy quickly, and deliver real benefits to families.

The success of these sixteen communities opens the door for others across Utah and potentially the nation to follow their lead.