House Bill 16 focuses on the solar power plant amendments in Utah. This bill has become debated and it is very hard to predict whether this bill will pass or get rejected. I think that the result of this bill is very important for the future of clean energy in this state. We have a lot of data about the negative effects of unclean energy on the environment. If now’s not the time to get serious about clean energy, then when?
Clean energy is important to a better future for everyone. If we continue on the track we are on right now it is fully possible that in 20-30 years we can’t go outside without a mask because the air is so polluted and toxic. Many older people don’t care about what they are leaving the planet with. They will be gone by the time this is a serious issue. That is exactly why us younger people need to be involved with this issue. House Bill #16 tries to find rules for solar power in Utah. These rules tell about where they can be built, how much money they can use from the state to build them, and what they will do to protect wildlife. If we don’t start doing something about unclean power soon, it will eventually become unsolvable because the environment will be too polluted.
As of November 2025 Utah had 78,617 solar panels installed. The total output of these solar panels puts Utah in 17th nationwide for solar production. Even though they are higher up in solar production, Utah is slightly below the national average for renewable energy of 22.5% at only 20.9%. Historically Utah has been a big time coal and natural gas producer with 75% of their energy coming from these two up until 2015.
This matters especially in the Salt Lake Valley area because of the inversion we get here. The unclean energy made in SLC causes really bad pollution during the winter. If we don’t take action for cleaner power, those awful winter weeks with red pollution could become an everyday thing. Going outside without a mask to exercise will be over. This could destroy the tourism industry for skiing, biking, hiking, etc in Utah.
We need to push for cleaner energy in Utah, even if it is not this particular bill. If you do nothing you are not being neutral, you are making a negative impact. Get out in the community, post on social media, write a letter to people in power, educate yourself, make a push for change.
