URC Opens the Doors to Clean Energy Developers

We are thrilled to share that on Thursday, May 22nd, Utah Renewable Communities released our solicitation to market, opening the doors to developers who want to to build new clean energy projects for the URC Program!

To run the solicitation to obtain clean energy resources, URC first had to gain approval from the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC). Permission was requested on November 19th, 2024, when Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) submitted URC’s solicitation documents to the PSC for review. The documents proposed how URC would evaluate, score, and select clean energy resources for the Program. After 6 months of careful consideration, the PSC approved URC’s solicitation process on Tuesday, May 13th. 

With that approval, URC has now invited clean energy developers to submit bids for new renewable energy projects to be added to the RMP grid as a part of the URC Program. To be considered, projects must be located in Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming, connect directly to the RMP electric grid, and achieve commercial operation no later than Dec 31st, 2029 to support our goal of net-100% renewable electricity by 2030.  

While all developers are welcome to apply, URC will prioritize projects that will add no more than $3 to $4 to the average residential customer’s monthly bill.  Additional points may be awarded to projects that:

• are located in Utah (in appropriate permitted locations),

• employ Utah workers,

• and meet prevailing wage requirements.

  
  

Through this solicitation, the URC Program could add up to 600,000 Megawatt-hours of new clean energy to the Rocky Mountain Power grid.  We are on our way!

Visit the Solicitation Website at: https://www.urc2024rfp.com/

Up Next

On January 24th, 2025, Rocky Mountain Power submitted the rest of the Program Application (everything but the solicitation documents) to the Utah Public Service Commission for review.  We are awaiting Rocky Mountain Power’s testimony, expected by the end of May.

The PSC's approval of the full Program Application is anticipated by the end of this year, which would allow URC to launch the program next year (2026) with one or more contracted clean energy resources.