The Point and Rocky Mountain Power sign landmark agreement for world-class sustainability

SALT LAKE CITY — The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority (Land Authority) and Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) have announced a landmark agreement to establish The Point as a global model for sustainable development. The agreement outlines ambitious goals for environmentally sustainable energy practices that will reduce emissions and energy use. Through implementation of this agreement, the Land Authority and RMP will help to improve the quality of life for all Utahns through improved air quality and economic opportunity. 

The agreement builds on the recently released framework plan for The Point that outlines specific objectives for achieving a “Net Zero” development through significant reductions in energy use relative to traditional development. The partners intend to achieve these objectives through energy efficiency programs, low- and zero-carbon energy development, electrified transportation infrastructure, and other strategies, all while keeping costs reasonable for future residents and businesses.  

“This agreement with Rocky Mountain Power marks a major step forward in keeping our promise to Utahns to develop The Point in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said state Rep. Lowry Snow, Land Authority co-chair. “The Point is not only one of the most significant economic opportunities in state history, but also an opportunity for world-class responsible and sustainable development.” 

The Point represents one of the most important economic opportunities in Utah’s history, and our partnership with them demonstrates an exciting commitment to sustainability,” said Gary Hoogeveen, Rocky Mountain Power president and CEO. “We look forward to working with state and local leaders to create customized energy solutions that will serve as models in sustainable development."

The Land Authority and RMP will develop an implementation plan outlining respective roles, processes, responsibilities, timelines, program/project development pathways and costs to achieve the goals and deliverables outlined in the agreement. Some of the key deliverables include: 

• 10-Year Power-Use Roadmap – The partners will create a roadmap for clean energy generation from low to zero-carbon sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, battery, renewable energy credits, and other sources. They agree to share data and develop a dynamic forecast to determine future energy needs at the site.
  
• Renewable Energy Generation and Storage Forecasting – The partners will forecast the type and size of needed energy resources (i.e., wind, solar, geothermal, battery, renewable energy credits, etc.), as well as how much energy must be generated from each resource.
• Electrified Transportation Infrastructure – The partners commit to supporting electrified transportation infrastructure to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality while lowering operating costs. Since electricity is generally less expensive than traditional transportation fuels, the partners agree that electrified transportation such as electric vehicles and charging stations will be an important part of the solution.
• Transmission and Distribution Network Planning – The partners will work together in good faith to plan proactively for needed transmission and distribution infrastructure.

"Building an energy-responsible community from scratch is not only a challenge, but an exciting opportunity," said Thom Carter, energy advisor to Governor Spencer J. Cox. "Utah has a rich history of planning for the future and this partnership continues that tradition. "We applaud the collaborative efforts of Rocky Mountain Power and The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority in creating dependable energy efficiency standards for this world-class development.”

“Our partnership with Rocky Mountain Power provides us with the technical and regulatory framework to implement key sustainability metrics established in our recently released plan for The Point,” said Alan Matheson, executive director for The Point. “This agreement outlines tangible deliverables that reaffirm our commitment to Utahns to create a future-focused, environmentally sustainable community.” 

In the coming months, the Land Authority and RMP will move forward to implement the key deliverables outlined in the agreement. More information, including the full text of the agreement, can be found on The Point website.