Utah lawmakers shifted $33 million in state funds to address flood damages, money that would have been used for other needs: highway repair/construction, wildfire suppression and economic development in rural Utah. Who knows how we will pay — and we will pay — to meet these other needs? Even those not directly affected by flooding will see the rising cost of inaction of our changing climate.
Nationwide extreme weather events caused $115 billion in insured losses in 2022, a reminder that the cost of climate inaction is far greater than the cost of taking action. We need more policy solutions to reduce carbon emissions and fast-track a clean-energy future, benefiting all Americans, especially those in rural areas.
We can reduce carbon pollution by supporting Building Electrification & Efficiency policies and individually by transitioning from using climate warming fossil fuels in our appliances, to using cheaper clean energy appliances. Additionally, we need to speed up the pace at which we build and connect new clean energy projects to the grid through Clean Energy Permitting Reform. More than 92% of new energy projects currently awaiting permits are solar and wind; just 7.5% are natural gas.
Utah can be a leader in the renewable energy transition. It’s great news that a huge solar project is in the works for Beaver County but why isn’t a Utah company behind the project? One of the best plans targeting and committing to a rapid transition to clean energy in Utah is Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp’s Integrated Resource Plan.
Urge your state legislators and members of Congress to position Utah as a leader in the renewable energy revolution, bringing us good jobs, cheaper power, and clean air.
Jean M. Lown, Logan
