to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Utah’s solar capacity increased by nearly 25% in the last five years. Creating additional hurdles for solar development could limit its positive economic and environmental impact. Design professionals working on master-planned communities or large developments should watch for the return of this legislation in 2026. It reflects growing public discomfort with the scale and visual impact of renewable infrastructure, a challenge architects are equipped to address through thoughtful design, landscape integration and community dialogue. Passed into law this year, HB 85 — Environmental Permitting Modifications streamlines how permits are processed for industrial and energy projects. While efficiency is welcome, the bill also limits the scope of environmental review in certain cases. This shift could speed up construction timelines for projects ranging from manufacturing to energy infrastructure, but it raises red flags for those concerned about transparency, environmental justice and public input. For architects, it underscores the need to conduct internal sustainability and health impact assessments even when policy doesn’t require them. With climate resilience becoming a standard in high-performance building, even to the point where some insurance companies require it, design professionals can look beyond legal requirements to deliver even better facilities. Some of the most crucial environmental issues in Utah were left largely untouched by successful legislation in 2025. Bills that would have tackled air quality and transportation emissions, or provided incentives for low-water landscaping failed to gain traction. And issues surrounding the shrinking Great Salt Lake were almost completely ignored. One example is HB 499 S2 — Department of Environmental Quality Amendments, which proposed reforms to the Air Quality Board and updated water heater emissions standards, but they were not passed. This leaves critical gaps in addressing Utah’s chronic air pollution, which is a widely known problem that affects everything from sitting decisions to indoor air quality design strategies. Utah also continues to lack strong incentives for water-wise development, even as the Great Salt Lake shrinks to historic lows. With architects increasingly called upon to design for drought resilience, the absence of state-level policy support presents a barrier to scaling sustainable landscape design. The story of Utah’s 2025 legislative session is not one of outright climate denial or neglect; however, it does leave doubt about the quality of life we are creating for future generations. Energy education, utility policy and permitting are being reshaped, but often in ways that favor legacy industries or corporate interests. Whether through clean energy sourcing, adaptive reuse or community advocacy, AIA members must stay engaged in the process of sustainable development, both on the design side and on the policy side. The built environment can either cling to practices that no longer provide the best outcomes for the most people, or lead the way into a resilient, sustainable future. Let’s choose to lead. Sources Utah State Legislature (le.utah.gov), https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0157.html and https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0241.html HEAL Utah 2025 Legislative Recap, https://www.healutah.org/2025legislative-recap/ U.S. Energy Information Administration, https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=UT Utah Office of Energy Development, https://energy.utah.gov/ 23
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