The U.S. state of Utah has the solar potential to provide all of the electricity used in the United States.^[1] Utah is one of the seven states with the best potential for solar power, along with California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas.^[2] Utah's only investor owned utility (PacifiCorp - doing business as Rocky Mountain Power (RMP)) currently allows partial net metering (net billing service - Schedule 137) for residential systems up to 25 kW and up to 2 MW for non-residential users. In the past RMP allowed full net metering (Schedule 135), and partial net metering (Schedule 136, providing approximately a 90% credit for each kWh exported to RMP). Neither of these Schedules allows for new customers to sign up any longer.^[3] Utah's municipal utilities and electric cooperatives set their own net metering policies.

Utah has a renewable portfolio standard in statue, but it is best described as a goal, not a binding standard. It calls for obtaining 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025 – but only if doing so is cost effective compared to other available alternatives.^[4]

Since 2011, with the 30% federal tax credit, prices have decreased to the point that they provide an attractive return on investment.^[5] Utah allows a tax credit for residential and commercial renewable energy systems. The tax credit is being phased out, it initially allowed for up to a $2,000 tax credit (35% of system cost) for residential systems and up to a $50,000 credit (10% of system cost) for commercial systems.^[6] St. George offers a $2000/kW (AC) rebate of up to $6,000 for residential systems, and up to $20,000 for commercial systems.^[7] A similar offer had been available from RMP ($1.10/watt (AC) through an auction process each year), but in March 2016 the program was terminated by the Utah Legislature Senate Bill SB0115.^[8]

Utah's energy consumption consists of both fossil fuels and renewable resources. In 2009, residents, business and industries combined, consumed approximately 27,411 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity; 0.01% of which was solar generated. Of the total energy produced, 1,090 trillion British thermal units (320 TWh), in 2009 a fraction of 0.1% was solar generated.^[9]

Solar energy production via residential net-metering has increased steadily since 2008. From 2008 to 2009, the number of households participating in the program grew fivefold, placing Utah 18th, in the country.^[10]

According to Utah Governor Herbert's 10-Year Strategic Energy Plan, 72% of crude oil used in transportation, comes from out of state sources; pursuance of clean technology for nontraditional fuels is "critical to [Utah's] economy, air quality and quality of life".

Utah has the potential to generate 1,500,000 GWh/year from 826 GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants using 6,371 square miles - about 7.5% of the state.^[21] CSP has the advantage over photovoltaics of integrating storage, allowing 24-hour operation, and allowing the hourly output to track demand, with the balance stored as heat.^[22] CSP is not able to compensate for seasonal changes, although in the southwest peak demand correlates with peak solar output, due to air conditioning loads. Utah is one of 11 states each able to provide all of the electricity used in the United States from CSP.^[1]

Utah's solar easement provisions are similar to those in other states, in that parties may voluntarily enter into written contracts, enforceable by law, that once created run with the land.^[23] However, The Utah Public Service Commission plans to execute a cost-benefit analysis of consumer-produced electricity and its effects on the current electrical system. This study may set national precedent, as no state's regulatory agency has conducted a full-scale examination of net-metered solar power. The study does not consider the benefits of clean energy on health and the environment. It evaluates the solar-generated energy as if it were generated by coal, the major source of power in Utah. Many eastern states do value their clean energy with cap-and-trade legislation.^[24] Utah also provides a nonrefundable^[25] and refundable^[26] tax credit for qualifying solar projects.

A bill in the Utah Senate, SB0115 sponsored by Senator Stuart J. Adams, put an end to the Rocky Mountain Power Solar Incentive Program in March 2016. The bill was titled "Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act" but contained language that lacked support for solar energy, even after several amendments. Some claim that the complex bill was aimed to bypass the oversight of the Public Service Commission and allow a path to make rooftop solar unattractive. The Senate bill failed a vote in the House of Representatives late in the afternoon of the last day the legislature was in session, and solar proponents were relieved. But later that night 'after dinner' the bill was brought back to the House for 'reconsideration' by Representative V. Lowry Snow, and after further dialogue from Representative Snow, another vote was taken in the House of Representatives and this time the bill passed.^[27] KSL article "House approves resurrected Rocky Mountain Power bill"^[28]

A previous attempt to change the Solar Net Metering agreement for Rocky Mountain Power was rejected by the Utah Public Service Commission. This brings into question the support for rooftop solar in Utah by the state's largest utility Rocky Mountain Power, which is now owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE).

• "Buffett Says He Loves Renewables, So Why Is His Company Trying To Kill Solar Energy?"^[29]
• "Warren Buffett’s Energy Company Says Net Metering Should Be ‘Eliminated’"^[30]

The passage of Utah State Bill 75 in 2006 allocated $179 million to the USTAR Economic Development Initiative, $15 million in ongoing annual funding to research teams at the University of Utah and Utah State University and $160 million towards the construction of new research facilities.^[35]

Included in this appropriation is funding for alternative and renewable energy research, including catalysis and solar technologies.^[36] Resulting new bioengineering companies include Binergy Scientific,^[37] Nanosynth Materials and Sensors, and Nanosynth Energy Technologies.^[38]

After a ranking of 34th in the nation, Utah has taken greater steps to produce green jobs within the state. The creation of Intermountain Weatherization Training^[42] center in Clearfield has trained thousands of new workers for green jobs throughout the state, including certified solar installation.^[43][44] The goal of the 14,000-square-foot facility is to use hands-on training with state-of-the-art equipment to train workers in accordance to the U.S. Department of Energy guidelines for home energy professionals.^[42] The Intermountain Weatherization Center (IWC) is funded from private contributions, donations, grants, fees, any money appropriated by the Legislature.^[43][45]

On April 20, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management identified 17 "Solar Energy Zones" with the best potential for priority solar development. Three of those are in Utah. In addition to the Solar Energy Zones, 18,098,040 acres is available in Utah for solar application permits from the BLM, plus 1,962,671 acres with a variance.^[46]

• Escalante Valley - 6,533 acres (26.4 km²) 588 - 1,058 MW 37°55′N 113°27′W^[47]
• Milford Flats South - 6,252 acres (25.3 km²) 576 - 1,037 MW 38°11′N 113°04′W^[48]
• Wah Wah Valley 5,873 acres (23.8 km²) 542 - 976 MW 38°28′N 113°25′W^[49]

• List of power stations in Utah
• Wind power in Utah
• Solar power in the United States
• Renewable energy in the United States