Senate adopts resolution opposing federal shutdown of Utah power; debate focuses on 'dispatchable' wording

The Utah State Senate on the floor adopted House Concurrent Resolution 9, a message resolution expressing opposition to federal actions that sponsors said could force shutdowns of Utah power plants.

Senator Vickers, the floor sponsor, framed the measure as a defense of state resources and of generation that can be called upon to meet grid demand. "A dispatchable source of electricity refers to an electrical power system such as a power plant that can be turned on or off," Vickers told the chamber when explaining the choice to replace the word "sustainable" with "dispatchable." He said the wording aims to identify plants — including coal and natural-gas facilities — that the state wants to protect from federal restrictions he described as overreach.

Senator Bluehund questioned swapping the term "sustainable" for "dispatchable" and urged broader consistency with the state energy policy, which uses terms like "clean" in some places. "If we're going to send messages, let's send messages to all of the energy sources," Bluehund said, urging balanced language.

After floor discussion and a motion to pass the resolution under suspension of the rules, the Senate recorded a roll-call vote of 21 yeas, 6 nays, 2 absent. The resolution will be signed by the President and returned to the House.

Provenance: Topic begins at SEG 034 (motion to encircle and sponsor remarks) and continues through SEG 218 (final roll-call and clerks’ announcement).