Summit County’s Sustainable Development Goals are built on partnerships

An 80-MW solar farm that opened in Tooele County in mid-May helps advance renewable energy goals in Park City and broader Summit County.

Construction on the Elektron Solar project began in 2021 in partnership with Rocky Mountain Power, DE Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and six solar customers – Summit County, Park City Municipal, Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain, Salt Lake City and Utah Valley University.

The solar farm began commercial operation on May 15 and could provide up to 95% of the district courthouse’s power. Sustainability program manager Emily Quinton said this will make a significant difference as officials work to transition government operations to 100% net renewable energy over the next six years as part of the county’s broader climate goals.

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Incremental progress has been made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Summit County, such as increasing the fleet of hybrid or electric vehicles or reducing vehicle use overall, likely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. So far it seems to be a gradual change.

However, large collaborative projects such as the Elektron Solar facility are expected to make a significant contribution to offsetting the county’s carbon footprint.

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Government emissions in Summit County peaked in 2019 in the seven years between 2016 and 2022. They have since declined slightly, but were not significant. The solar farm will bring the county courthouse “very close” to achieving its goal of net zero energy by 2030, according to Quinton.

“There is no doubt that we still have a lot to do to achieve the goals set by the Council. (…) We are slowly changing behavior,” she said. “But one day the (key) project that wasn’t there will show up the next day.”

The county has already installed several solar panels on its buildings, including the Utah State University Extension Office in Coalville and the Sheldon Richins Building in Kimball Junction.

But while a single-family home may be able to provide a significant portion of its electricity through generated energy, commercial buildings are typically only able to supply about 25% with renewable energy. Quinton said a common strategy for governments, universities and local businesses is to install a larger off-site project to help meet sustainability goals.

Elektron Solar operates by entering into 20- and 25-year Rocky Mountain Power Schedule 34 power purchase agreements for renewable energy purchases to support the internal business operations of its six customers. The electricity you generate on the grid stays there until you need it, so you can be sure it will go where it needs to go.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the solar farm is expected to generate enough clean energy to power 19,700 homes a year.

“Project Elektron exemplifies the core value of Summit County collaboration, demonstrating how renewable energy initiatives can deliver environmental and economic results,” Summit County Board Chair Malena Stevens said in a statement. “We are proud to be part of this project that will help us achieve our goals of using renewable electricity to power the county.”

Quinton expressed her appreciation for this milestone achievement, which she said was only possible because of the partnerships and initiatives Summit County has undertaken in its quest to become more environmentally friendly.

Park City and Summit County are also part of Utah’s renewable communitiesor Community Renewable Energy Agency, which aims to create a net-default 100% renewable electricity option for Rocky Mountain Power customers in incorporated municipalities.

To participate, communities had to adopt a resolution by December 2019, and 18 places, including Oakley, Francis, Coalville, Emigration Canyon, Moab, Millcreek and Ogden, formally joined the program by the May 2022 deadline.

Quinton said Rocky Mountain Power should begin sending some preliminary documents to the Utah Public Service Commission with the goal of having a participation ordinance adopted by the end of the year.

The program could launch in early 2025, making renewable energy accessible to every homeowner. According to the program’s website, rates for participants are expected to increase from $2 to $7 per month.

Still, Quinton noted that the Elektron Solar project and other initiatives only involve electricity. She said officials need to find solutions to, for example, offset the use of gas used to heat district facilities.

Zero food waste by 2030 initiative led by the Park City Community Foundation’s Climate Fund would be one way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Summit County. The program aims to divert food waste from landfills to processing centers that transform it into less harmful, usable products. It is estimated that 60% of solid waste stored in landfills is food waste.

The Office of Sustainability is also working with the Planning Department as staff works to revise the General Plan. Environmental protection was cited as a top priority during the community-wide vision project Our Summit.

For this reason, the Office of Sustainability will be involved in the Summit County Health Department’s community health assessment. Then there is a partnership between the two connected offices to organize a speaker series on climate change and public health. It returns this fall to help promote important community dialogue.

Summit County began setting sustainability and climate goals more than 10 years ago, from early recycling programs to recent investments in electric vehicle charging stations. In 2015, the County Council adopted an action plan which also took into account the wider community through public transport and pedestrian access. The formal resolution was approved in 2017.

In 2019, the county established specific operational goals: transition to 100% renewable net electricity, convert to hybrid or electric vehicles with charging infrastructure, and reduce energy consumption in public and private sector buildings to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to 2014 levels by 2050.

“We want to see rapid progress toward these goals, but we must recognize that this process takes years to evolve, and that’s OK. These things are happening at the rate that partnerships are being formed,” Quinton said.

Visit summitcounty.info/elektronsolar for detailed information about the solar farm project. Information about the Office of Sustainability can be found at Sustainability-Office.org/463/Sustainability-Office.