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2007 Legislative Session

The 2007 Legislative Session was the most successful session to date for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Utah! 

Please thank the Legislative Sponsors listed below for their work to make renewable energy and energy efficiency a part of Utah's future.

To locate and contact your legislators, click here.

For tips and suggestions for contacting your legislators, click here.

NOTE: Bills that passed out of Congress will become law within 10 days pending approval by Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. 

1.Utah’s Renewable Energy Tax Credit - PASSED!

Senate Sponsor: Senator Howard Stephenson (R) Dist. 11, Salt Lake County

House Sponsor: Mike Noel, (R) Dist. 73, Kane County

SB 13 - Tax Incentives for Alternate Power Generation was rolled into SB 223 - Tax Amendments, and provides corporate and individual tax credit incentives for residential and commercial renewable energy systems.  These systems include solar (electric, heating, and passive orientation), wind, geothermal, geothermal heat pumps, hydro, and biomass.  This credit will become retroactively effective beginning January 1, 2007.

This legislation will provide economic development opportunities to rural Utah and demonstrates that Utah is friendly to renewable energy investments and industries, helping to bring a number of renewable energy projects (potentially over 500 MW) over next several years.

2. Revolving Loan Fund for Certain Energy Efficient Projects, HB351 - PASSED!

House Sponsor: Representative Roger Barrus (R) Dist. 18, Davis County

Senate Sponsor: Senator Dan Eastman (R) Dist. 23, Davis County

This bill is designed to help remove the barrier of capital constraints for energy efficiency investments, which save energy and tax payer dollars, and prevent pollution

This bill creates a $5 million revolving loan fund for K-12 schools and school districts.  This fund will help remove the barrier of capital constraints for energy efficiency investments, which save energy and tax payer dollars, and prevent pollution.  Savings from these projects will allow schools and school districts to reinvest savings back into educating Utah’s students.

Loans will be provided for the retrofit of existing buildings as well as energy efficiency upgrades to new buildings.  In addition to loans, technical assistance will also be provided to help public agencies and school districts conduct energy audits, design and implement energy efficiency projects, and maximize energy savings.  This program will be modeled on successfull programs in other states such as the Iowa Energy Bank and Texas LoanSTAR.  

3. State Fleet Efficiency Requirements, HB110 - PASSED!

House Sponsor: Representative Fred Hunsaker (R) Dist. 4, Cache & Rich Counties

Senate Sponsor: Senator Scott Jenkins (R) Dist. 20, Weber County

Improving the efficiency of State Fleets

This legislation seeks to improve the efficiency of state fleets.  A primary goal of this legislation focuses on a volume reduction of fuel used by the state vehicle fleet.  It will be results oriented, while being non-prescriptive in how departments and divisions achieve the reductions.  The legislation gives fleet managers and the Director of Fleet Operations a specific objective to use in meeting fuel efficiency goals and then requires them to devise a plan for accomplishing the goal.

Investing in fleet fuel efficiency results in lower annual fuel costs, so fleet managers and purchasing departments can easily save their departments, the state, and Utah taxpayers money.  Over the lifetime of each vehicle our local air quality will benefit as well, while also reducing our reliance of foreign fuel.

4. Resolution Supporting Energy Efficiency, HJR 2 - FAILED*

Representative Ralph Becker (D) Dist.24, Salt Lake County

Senator Fred Fife (D) Dist. 1, Salt Lake County

This non-binding resolution asked the Utah Legislature to express support for Governor Huntsman’s goal to increase energy efficiency 20% by 2015.  This legislation did not appropriate monies, had no special clauses, nor did it include deliverables on behalf of the Legislature.

* This bill passed out of the House unanimously, but did not make it to the Senate Floor for a vote before the Session concluded.

5. Clean Air and Efficient Vehicles Tax Incentives, HB122 SO4 - FAILED*

House Sponsor: Representative Roz McGee (D) Dist. 28, Salt Lake County

Senate Sponsor: Senator Greg Bell (R) Dist. 22, Central Davis County

Tax Incentives for highly efficient clean vehicles and vehicle conversions

This bill sought to improve the existing state tax credit for clean fuel vehicles by fixing a loophole that allows the credit to be abused.  This legislation had a positive fiscal impact and would have extended the credit to vehicles meeting high fuel efficiency and air quality guidelines set by the Federal Government (i.e. Honda Civic CNG, Honda Civic hybrid, Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry hybrid).

* After passing out of the House unanimously, this bill got stuck in the Senate Rules Committee and did not make it to the Senate for a vote.

Contact your state representatives to let them know you want Utah to develop a diversified, clean, and sustainable energy portfolio.

It is also important to not only contact your state representative, but also the committee members who first hear the bill.  If the bill is For a bill to be heard by the whole legislature, it is vital that the bill get passed through the committee first. 

See our Policy page for tips on contacting and talking to representatives about legislation, which is important to you. 

The Citizens Guide is also a great tool to learn more about the Utah State Legislature, how to read a bill, committees, testifying before a committee and how to get more involved.