Joe Pyrah

Utah's energy companies are expected to have 20 percent of their output in the form of renewable energy by 2025. If they want to.

Senate Bill 202 is on its way to floor debate after a blowing through a committee.

"This bill is a consensus bill, a compromise bill. Not everyone at the table got everything they wanted out of it," Bramble said.

What exactly the energy companies didn't get is in the details, as the bill contains no mandates for renewable energy usage and leaves nuclear energy on the table.

The compromise resides in how energy companies select sources of power, Bramble says. Previously, if Rocky Mountain Power needed a new source of electricity, it would put out a bid, give the contract to itself and then charge ratepayers the cost.

But by including cost recoveries for contracting with outside energy producers, the bill protects power suppliers like Rocky Mountain if a renewable energy venture goes belly-up.

Energy groups lined up Monday to laud the bill, including representatives of Rocky Mountain Power, the Utah Municipal Power Agency and the Utah Rural Electric Association.

"We've all had to move lines in the sand significantly," said Leon Paxton, of the UMPA.

The bill is essentially a carbon-copy of another effort by Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, that died a swift death in committee because it contained mandates that forced energy companies to improve renewable energy output.

Bramble's bill would call for the companies to use 20 percent renewable energy by 2025, "if cost effective."

Conspicuous in their absence was the Sierra Club, which vowed to oppose any bill without a mandate.

McCoy said he's likely to support Bramble's bill.

"Part of me is, look, at least we have the majority leader saying 'We have to be concerned about conservation and renewable energy,' " he said. "If anything, it sets us on the path."

Like McCoy, other environmental groups said Monday that they didn't oppose the bill but felt it didn't go far enough. Now is the time, they say, to pass laws that make the state attractive to renewable energy developers.

"This bill doesn't demonstrate a serious enough commitment to lure outside investment to our state," said Christopher Thomas of HEAL Utah.