Summit County takes “giant first step” toward local renewable energy access

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – Summit County Councilmember Roger Armstrong announced what he called a “gigantic first step” in a years-long push to bring renewable energy to local residents, following the Public Service Commission’s approval of a key solicitation request.

The approval allows a coalition of Utah cities and counties—informally dubbed “COREA,” short for the Community Renewable Energy Agency—to begin soliciting proposals from developers to build renewable energy facilities. These future projects will enable participating jurisdictions to offer residents and businesses the option to subscribe to power sourced entirely from renewables.

“This is a big deal,” Armstrong said during a recent update. “It means we’re now going to try and fast-track the solicitation. I believe it will be imminent—a matter of days or weeks—before it’s issued.”

Until now, Armstrong noted, communities served by Rocky Mountain Power have had limited access to renewable electricity options, relying mostly on the utility’s relatively small-scale “Blue Sky” program. The new effort aims to provide a broader, more permanent clean energy option for residents across participating areas.

Armstrong said county and agency representatives are continuing negotiations with Rocky Mountain Power’s parent company, PacificCorp, and the Public Service Commission to finalize key elements of the program’s design and operation.

“We’re not across the finish line yet,” Armstrong said. “There’s still work to do concerning how the program is structured and how it will work. But we’re having a lot of conversations to try and narrow those issues and get this fully approved.”

Once a provider is selected through the upcoming solicitation process, the next steps will include finalizing regulatory details and building out the infrastructure necessary to bring locally sourced renewable energy to customers in Summit County and beyond.

A full launch timeline has not yet been announced, but officials say the momentum is building toward a new era of local, clean power access.