Utah House approves reorganization of state energy policy after debate over prioritized language
February 08, 2024 | 2024 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah House on Feb. 7 approved House Bill 374, a reorganization of the state's energy policy that sponsors said clarifies definitions and makes the code readable and actionable. The measure passed the House 63–9 and will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
Supporters, including the bill’s sponsor, Representative Jack, said the changes are largely editorial and organizational: "we reordered the terms to make them in logical order and to prioritize them," he told colleagues, adding the changes help officials and the public understand what the state wants from energy policy.
Opponents warned that the bill’s phrasing could change how future projects are evaluated. Representative Briscoe told the chamber, "shall means must," arguing the lines that list attributes in priority order — adequate, reliable, dispatchable, affordable, sustainable, secure, and clean — could make clean energy the last criterion considered. Briscoe said the language “makes me wonder whether … we’ll have that kind of breadth of development” and described personal health impacts from air pollution to explain his preference for stronger prioritization of clean sources.
Other members pushed back, saying the statute is meant to strike a balance between reliability, affordability and environmental goals. Representative Jack and supporters emphasized the law’s role in guiding decisions that maintain reliable, dispatchable electricity. "What this bill does is helps us ensure ... we will keep reliable and affordable and dispatchable electricity, and that the lights will stay on," Jack said.
The debate centered on statutory wording rather than a specific project or funding change. No amendments were adopted on the floor; the sponsor waived summation and the bill advanced with the recorded 63–9 vote.
Next steps: HB 374 will be sent to the Utah Senate for consideration; if passed there and enrolled it would return to the governor for signing.
Supporters, including the bill’s sponsor, Representative Jack, said the changes are largely editorial and organizational: "we reordered the terms to make them in logical order and to prioritize them," he told colleagues, adding the changes help officials and the public understand what the state wants from energy policy.
Opponents warned that the bill’s phrasing could change how future projects are evaluated. Representative Briscoe told the chamber, "shall means must," arguing the lines that list attributes in priority order — adequate, reliable, dispatchable, affordable, sustainable, secure, and clean — could make clean energy the last criterion considered. Briscoe said the language “makes me wonder whether … we’ll have that kind of breadth of development” and described personal health impacts from air pollution to explain his preference for stronger prioritization of clean sources.
Other members pushed back, saying the statute is meant to strike a balance between reliability, affordability and environmental goals. Representative Jack and supporters emphasized the law’s role in guiding decisions that maintain reliable, dispatchable electricity. "What this bill does is helps us ensure ... we will keep reliable and affordable and dispatchable electricity, and that the lights will stay on," Jack said.
The debate centered on statutory wording rather than a specific project or funding change. No amendments were adopted on the floor; the sponsor waived summation and the bill advanced with the recorded 63–9 vote.
Next steps: HB 374 will be sent to the Utah Senate for consideration; if passed there and enrolled it would return to the governor for signing.
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