As renewable energy sources become increasingly cost-competitive, Utah must begin laying the foundation for a future that is carbon-neutral.
Utah is expected to see significant population growth. We must plan for that expansion in a forward-thinking manner, which means we must begin a mass transition to renewable energy. Currently, 23 cities are planning to run on 100% renewable energy by 2030. We must scale these pledges up to the state level.
California has already committed to this goal by 2045, and with a landmass and population far larger than Utah’s, its example demonstrates that it is absolutely within our reach. California’s commitment to renewables is a smart long-term economic move and an acknowledgment of the severe impacts it will experience from climate change. We in Utah are facing similar crises that are already manifesting in increasing temperatures, exposing our population to dangerous levels of heat during the summer, and decreasing snowpacks, which threaten our already strained water resources.
We mustn’t fall victim to energy inertia; we need to be forward-thinking and plan for a future that acknowledges the climate crisis we all face.
Kian Robinson
Salt Lake City