As Utah's advocate to ensure healthy, thriving communities empowered by clean energy, Utah Clean Energy is in full force to stop energy waste, create clean energy, and build a smart energy future.  Below are a few exciting successes from the past few months that are bringing Utah closer to a clean energy future.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GETS CHEAPER AND EASIER

Launch of the Wasatch Solar Challenge
There are two primary obstacles to installing solar energy: money and complexity. The Wasatch Solar Challenge tackles these two barriers head-on.

Utah Clean Energy recently launched the Wasatch Solar Challenge in partnership with Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Midvale City, Park City, Summit County, West Valley City, and the Utah Solar Energy Association. The goal of the challenge is simple: make solar energy more affordable and easier to install by reducing the red-tape that increases the costs and creates headaches. Fox 13 News Video - Local governments participate in solar power initiative

Big Win for Large Renewable Energy Projects
For those of you who have solar ambitions larger than your rooftop space, look no further than Senate Bill 12. Successfully passed during the 2012 Legislative Session, SB 12 targets renewable energy projects that are at least 2 Megawatts (MW) in capacity and enables large energy users to directly own or purchase renewable energy from offsite projects.
Forbes Magazine: EBay And Republican Lawmaker Score Clean Energy Win In Utah

SAFEGUARDING EFFICIENCY & BUILDING ENERGY SMART FROM THE START

Utah Clean Energy Leads Effort to Protect Energy Efficiency Funding
Energy efficiency prevents the construction of new, polluting coal plants, and makes sensible use of our existing energy resources. This is why Utah Clean Energy spearheaded a successful effort to protect millions of dollars dedicated to energy efficiency.

As a result, the Utah Public Service Commission approved a settlement agreement that keeps utility rates more stable while maintaining and expanding Rocky Mountain Power’s successful energy efficiency programs. This level of investment in energy efficiency will result in a projected savings of 250,000 megawatt hours, which will prevent the emission of 380,000,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide pollution in 2012.

Salt Lake City Makes List of Top 25 Cities with Most ENERGY STAR Buildings in the US
Cutting energy waste in our homes is the cheapest, easiest and quickest way to reduce pollution. For the first time, Salt Lake City made the list of top 25 cities with the most Energy Star buildings in the country - ranking 24th. In 2011, the nearly 16,500 Energy Star certified buildings across America have helped save nearly $2.3 billion in annual utility bills and have prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to emissions from the annual energy use of more than 1.5 million homes.

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS!

Our supporters have a commitment to a clean energy future which is vital to protect our public health, and the well-being of our environment and our economy. It is because our generous donors, corporate sponsors and Sustainers Circle members that Utah Clean Energy is able to successfully stop energy waste, create clean energy, and build a smart energy future.

From all of us at Utah Clean Energy, we thank you for making this work possible.