As an Ogdenite, I am proud that our city decided to join the Utah Renewable Communities (URC), a consortium of nineteen cities and counties that have joined together with Rocky Mountain Power to provide 100% clean, renewable power to citizens and businesses by 2030.

In March, the Utah Public Service Commission approved URC and set the timeline for its implementation. Ogden and the other member communities have until June 2nd to finalize their participation. For Ogden, that means that the Ogden City Council will hopefully vote to approve and pass an ordinance that commits our community to moving forward and enacting the program.

When that happens, we will all have the choice to get our electricity from renewable sources. If the Council does not pass the ordinance, then we will have no choice in where our electricity comes from. We will be left with the fossil-fuel heavy resource mix that we currently have, which unfortunately has become increasingly expensive over recent years.

URC represents about 25% of Rocky Mountain Power’s electricity sales in Utah and will be the largest renewable energy program of its kind in the state. In addition to providing clean energy to every customer, URC will develop new sources of solar and wind power, and thus support job growth in rural areas of Utah, which are the sites for these projects. It will also reduce pollution and its deleterious effects to our health and well-being.

As a consumer, you will continue to be a Rocky Mountain Power customer, receiving reliable power from the existing electricity grid. You will automatically be enrolled in URC with the choice to opt out within six months, without a penalty fee. The initial cost of the program, as determined by the Public Service Commission will be $4 per month, per household. To put that in perspective, it is less than a cappuccino at Starbucks! And low-income URC customers will receive a credit on their bill to cover the monthly fee.

Utah Renewable Communities is giving us the ability to choose clean, renewable energy to power our lives. And those who choose not to participate will not bear any of the costs of the program, only the net benefits. It empowers everyone to make this choice without having to install our own rooftop solar panels, which is unaffordable for many homeowners, and not possible for renters.

It is up to the members of the Ogden City Council to vote for URC by June 2nd. And it is up to us to call and email our Council Members, including the At-Large Members who represent all residents. We also need to attend Ogden City Council meetings, in person or virtually, which are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. on the third floor of the Municipal Building. There is a public comment period at the end of each session when you can tell the Council why URC is important to you and urge the members to adopt Utah Renewable Communities for you, your family and neighbors, and for Ogden.

Let’s hope that in the near future the Ogden Arch, proudly declaring “It Pays To Live In Ogden,” will be lit up at night, powered by clean, renewable energy, thanks to your hard work and to Utah Renewable Communities!

Visit https://linktr.ee/URCadoption to learn more and get involved!

Linda Zeveloff is an Ogden resident.