Positive Climate News in Utah

Despite the apparent harms modern society seems to consistently commit against the environment, there are always good people doing good work, and Utah is no exception. Here I’ve compiled a list of positive environmental initiatives that have happened in Utah over the last two years.

Renewable Energy Efforts

In Emery County the Green River Energy Center, soon to be one of the country’s largest solar and storage facilities, started construction. This project is estimated to power roughly 88,000 Utah homes starting May 2026, with a storage capacity able to fill the gaps in energy supply from other sources across the state and for when the sun isn’t shining. As fuel and wholesale power costs have been on the rise, solar energy prices have declined, meaning solar energy is becoming a more cost effective option for consumers, incentivizing the switch to renewables. It’s expected 500 construction jobs will be facilitated through this project with 15-20 full-time employees after its completion. The company noted that the priority is hiring local residents, creating more opportunities in rural Utah.

Another solar project, the Elektron Solar Project, became operational in May 2024 and supports Salt Lake City, Park City, Summit County, Utah Valley University, Deer Valley ski resort, and Park City Mountain Resort. As it stands, the Elektron project provides 80% of SLC’s electricity needs, furthering the city’s goal of being 100% net renewable by 2030.

Aside from solar energy, geothermal and wind energy projects have been popping up across the state. Utah FORGE, an international field laboratory managed by the University of Utah, has been researching and testing advanced geothermal systems with the intent to make geothermal energy a more widely available, inexpensive, and reliable source of clean power. They’ve started a project in Beaver County that will start delivering energy in 2026 and be completed in 2028.

The fossil fuel industry is one of the biggest instigators of climate change and pollution, making transitions to renewable energy important for improving our health and mitigating the harmful impacts that come along with a rapidly changing climate, including more frequent and intense natural disasters, food and water insecurity, and mass extinction.

Policies

In 2023, building code revisions were voted for and passed in the legislature making it so Utah’s commercial building code includes the latest energy efficiency standards. This will help cut carbon emissions and costs for our biggest buildings.

Additionally, two harmful bills, including one that argued for a drastic cut to tax credits for renewable energy and one that falsely suggested the transition to clean energy would undermine energy security and our energy grid, were defeated.

The resolution aiming to highlight the hazards of net-zero energy wouldn’t have been defeated if it weren’t for the people highlighting the misinformation in the bill. Speaking with your representatives, providing them accurate information, and sharing your opinion as their constituent is an important aspect of our governmental process. Hundreds of bills pass through the Utah legislature every year meaning you may have more in-depth knowledge of specific policy areas than your legislators. Your congresspeople and senators are meant to represent you, so make your voice heard!

Conservation

The Utah Division of Wildlife and Utah Department of Transportation have worked together to enable safe migrations for wildlife and fish, protecting them from vehicle collisions and barriers along their path. In 2024, they installed and repaired fencing, constructed a new wildlife underpass, and reconnected more than 25 miles of stream corridor.

Wildlife under/overpasses are like secret passageways that allow animals to avoid traffic by either going under or above roads. Additionally, things like dams, bridges, pollution, and culverts all cause blockages that prevent fish from spawning, migrating, and eating. Reconnecting streams removes these barriers.

Besides these conservation projects, multiple studies were conducted to determine how to mitigate wildlife-vehicle collisions, leading to recommendations for when to deploy seasonal drivers and increasing alerts.

Protecting wildlife protects all life. Every species from the bottom to the top of the food chain plays an important role in our ecosystems. Maintaining this balance is what enables us to all thrive sustainably with each other making conservation an integral part of environmental work.

The U

A lot of good work is happening all over Utah, but what about our university? Last spring the school of Environment, Society, and Sustainability was established, combining the Geography and Environmental and Sustainability Studies programs. The school aims to provide interdisciplinary learning that focuses on environmental challenges.

By combining the social and physical sciences students develop a well-rounded understanding of sustainable solutions that take into consideration technological, cultural, societal, and environmental impacts, helping us implement ideas that benefit everyone.

One of the biggest ways the U supports this mission is through their annual Wilkes Climate Summit. This summit provides students the opportunity to present their climate-related research projects to compete for a cash prize.

In addition to student prizes, for-profit and nonprofit organizations alike are invited to submit their best ideas for combating climate change on a global scale and compete for the Wilkes Climate Launch Prize. This prize awards the winner $500,000 to execute their idea. Last year Applied Carbon won with their farm robots that pick up crop waste post-harvesting and convert it into carbon-rich biochar, helping to rejuvenate soil.

Though there are many policies aimed at undermining environmental work, there are still people finding ways to promote change. It’s vital we continue to advocate for climate solutions and our local environments, despite increasing challenges, and remember there are people out there who care as much as you do that are worth collaborating with.

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Source: https://wasatchmag.com/positive-climate-news-in-utah/