Business Strategies and Opportunities for Clean Energy in Utah

On August 12, local businesses and community members gathered at the Park City Chamber for our latest Green Business Lunch & Learn.

Speakers from U-CREW, Vote Solar, and Summit County shared practical ways businesses can reduce energy use, explore solar and other clean energy options, and prepare for the new Community Clean Energy Program.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways:

1. Efficiency first: Use less before you source more

Emily Quinton, Sustainability Director for Summit County, set the stage by introducing the energy management hierarchy and how businesses can use it to prioritize their energy efforts: reduce demand → improve efficiency → source clean energy → offset what remains. 

Starting with conservation and efficiency can reduce both operating costs and emissions—and help businesses appropriately “right-size” their future clean energy demands. The same hierarchy can apply to water and waste, too: use less first, then find smarter, more sustainable ways to meet the need. 

2. Not sure where to start? Get a no-cost energy assessment

Creed McCord, Program Engineer with U-CREW, highlighted a practical way for businesses to identify energy-saving opportunities: a no-cost energy assessment for commercial buildings. 

The U-CREW consists of University of Utah faculty and student engineers who evaluate your facility and provide actionable recommendations tailored to your building and goals–whether that’s reducing energy use, lowering operating costs, cutting emissions, or exploring new technologies. The resulting report includes engineering and economic analysis, project costs, estimated energy and cost savings, payback periods, and eligible utility rebates and incentives–giving businesses a prioritized roadmap.

Ready to see what opportunities might exist at your business? Request a no-cost energy assessment.

Green Business tip: Completing an energy assessment can also earn you points toward Green Business certification.

3. Solar is becoming a bigger part of Utah’s energy picture

Kate Bowman, Regulatory Director at Vote Solar, shared how solar is playing a growing role in Utah’s energy mix—and the different ways businesses can take advantage of it. 

As costs have fallen, solar has become one of the most cost-competitive sources of new electricity generation and an increasingly important part of Utah’s energy mix. Just this May, solar generated more electricity in the state than any other energy source—a significant milestone.

For businesses looking to tap into solar, there are more options than ever—from participating in Rocky Mountain Power programs such as  Blue Sky or Subscriber Solar to generating their own electricity with rooftop solar.

Considering rooftop solar? Start with your energy use. Understanding how much electricity your business consumes can help determine the right system size and potential savings. Building ownership, available space, roof condition, and shading are also key considerations. 

Businesses can also take it a step further by adding battery storage, which helps maximize rooftop solar benefits by storing excess solar energy for later use, providing backup power, and even supporting the electric grid during periods of high demand.

Ready to explore whether solar could work for your business? Resources from Utah Clean Energy, Energy Sage, and Solar United Neighbors can help you learn more about your options and how to get started.

4. A new community program will invest in Utah’s clean energy future

Emily Quinton closed out the discussion by introducing the new Community Clean Energy Program (CCEP) and what local businesses should know as the program prepares to launch.

Participating customers will collectively help bring new utility-scale clean energy onto Utah’s grid. The program aims to develop enough new clean energy to eventually match the annual electricity use of participating customers—achieving a net-100% clean energy goal.

Locally, CCEP will be available to Rocky Mountain Power customers in Park City, unincorporated Summit County, Francis, and Oakley, with a launch currently projected for early 2027. All customers are eligible to participate, with the exception of certain residential solar customers on Schedule 135.

So, what does CCEP mean for your business?

• You’ll be enrolled automatically unless you opt out. Eligible customers will be automatically enrolled in the program, but participation is optional.
• The cost will depend on how much electricity you use. Participating businesses will see a new Schedule 100 line item on their bill at $0.00609 per kWh, plus a $0.12 low-income monthly surcharge.
• You’ll hear more from Rocky Mountain Power before anything changes. Two rounds of customer notices are expected to begin in November 2026, ahead of the program’s anticipated early 2027 launch.
• There will be an initial window to opt out without a termination fee. That window is currently expected to run through May 2027. Afterward, customers can still leave the program, but a termination fee will apply.

For participating businesses, CCEP offers an opportunity to help shape Utah’s clean energy future—and demonstrate that commitment to employees, customers, and the broader community. 

Ready to put some of these ideas into action? The Green Business Program has actions to help businesses reduce energy use, explore clean energy, and earn points toward certification along the way. 

Businesses can earn points for tracking energy use, completing an energy assessment, participating in a utility clean energy program, and many other energy-saving practices.

Want to learn more? View the August Lunch & Learn slide deck.

Stay tuned for our next Green Business Lunch & Learn, coming this November!