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Policy

Your elected officials want to hear from you on the issues that matter to you. 

It only takes a minute to write a letter, send an e-mail, or make a phone call.  They will listen, and your voice will be heard! 

Contact your local, state, and federal representatives to let them know you want Utah to develop a diversified, clean, and sustainable energy portfolio.  See below for optional talking points. 

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Let Your Voice Be Heard! 

For information on Utah legislative activities:

• Utah State Legislature

• State of Utah

Locate & Contact your Utah Legislators:

• Utah State Legislature

Locate & Contact your US Legislators:

• US House of Representatives
• US Senate

  (credit: Mark Maziarz www.maziarzphoto.com)

Optional Talking Points

• As a citizen, I want to see more energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, and I support policies that help create a more secure, sustainable energy future for Utah .
• I am willing to pay more for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs to minimize the risks of:
  • Global Warming
  • Volatile fuel-prices
  • Air/water pollution
  • Energy Security
  • Public health costs
  • Threats to long-term economic stability
• Current energy policy decisions will impact my children, my children’s children and future generations, and I want ALL risks (environmental, economic, and social) evaluated equally in the policy decision-making process.
• Coal and natural gas projects do not pay the full costs when they are developed because the environmental and economic impacts of their projects are not taken into consideration.
• Energy efficiency measures save money and help the environment by preventing global warming emissions and other pollutants associated with the combustion of fossil fuels for energy. 
• Many communities and local governments are working to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Salt Lake City, Park City, and Moab have all adopted sustainable energy resolutions
• Over 400 Utah businesses and over 17,000 citizens across the state are investing in clean energy through utility green pricing programs and/or renewable system installations. 
• As a concerned citizen, I trust that you are looking out for public health, economic security, and environmental sustainability – I want to see long-term solutions that reflect the growing need for a sustainable energy portfolio.

Tips for Contacting Policy Makers

These tips are courtesy of Renewable Northwest Project www.rnp.org adapted from the ONE/Northwest website at www.onenw.org.

Tell the legislator who you are. Make it clear that you are a constituent (in their state or district), and that you vote. This matters to someone who may be seeking re-election.

Be brief and to-the-point. Focus your message, make it clear what you want the recipient to do, and make it known early in the email. Try to keep your email to one or two screens (maximum).

Be informed. In preparation for sending your email, learn the bill number, its current status and timeline, who sponsored the bill and who supports it. Mention these facts in your message.

Make your message personal. You'll make more impact by talking about your concerns and your feelings, and the impact an environmental issue may have on your community or yourself.

Be polite. An environmental issue may anger you, but an abusive message rarely has an impact. Don't temper your strong feelings, but remember that you are writing to have an impact, not just to get something off your chest. Use your passion constructively.

Be generous with praise if it is due. If your representative did something you like (especially something you asked them to do), send them a thank you message for a job well done. Above all else, support "friends" of the environment. In the current political climate, elected officials who support environmental protection need to know their efforts are appreciated.

Include your physical mailing address at the end of the letter. Due to the way most congressional offices are set up, it is highly likely they will respond to your email message with a letter. (Note: Many congressional offices use an automatic response to all incoming messages, so you can expect to receive an often generic form message back immediately from most of the addresses to which you send a message).

Follow your email message with a letter or phone call. Again, email is not the most effective way to make your views known. It is crucial to use other avenues of communication as well.