§ 53F-5-221 — Management of energy and water use pilot program.

(1) As used in this section:

(1)(a) "Energy" means natural gas or electricity.
(1)(b) "Great Salt Lake watershed" means the drainage area for the Great Salt Lake, the Bear River watershed, the Jordan River watershed, the Utah Lake watershed, the Weber River watershed, and the West Desert watershed.
(1)(c) "Rural school district or charter school" means a school district or charter school that is located within a county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class.
(2) (2)(a) On or after May 3, 2023, but before July 1, 2028, the state board may award a grant to a school district or charter school upon recommendation by the review panel created in Subsection (5) to implement a program to reduce the use of energy or water by a school district or charter school.
(2)(b) When issuing a grant under this section, the state board shall prioritize outdoor water conservation projects.
(2)(c) When issuing a grant under this section during the period beginning on May 3, 2023, and ending October 31, 2023, the state board shall prioritize, in the order the state board considers appropriate, a grant:
(2)(c)(i) to a rural school district or charter school;
(2)(c)(ii) to a school district or charter school that is located within the Great Salt Lake watershed; and
(2)(c)(iii) for an outdoor water conservation project.
(3) (3)(a) Grant money may be used to pay for any of the following, provided the use is directly related to reducing the use of energy or water by the school district or charter school:
(3)(a)(i) computer equipment and peripherals;
(3)(a)(ii) software;
(3)(a)(iii) upgrades of existing computer equipment or software;
(3)(a)(iv) physical equipment used to deliver energy or water;
(3)(a)(v) upgrades of existing physical equipment used to deliver energy or water;
(3)(a)(vi) personnel to provide technical support or coordination and management;
(3)(a)(vii) staff or student management training;
(3)(a)(viii) recalibration of equipment for increased efficiency; or
(3)(a)(ix) another means of optimizing and measuring energy or water efficiency.
(3)(b) Equipment or software purchased in compliance with Subsection (3)(a), when not in use to reduce energy or water, may be used for other purposes.
(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the state board shall make rules:

(4)(a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding a grant;
(4)(b) establishing eligibility criteria;
(4)(c) creating grant distribution thresholds;
(4)(d) specifying how grant money is allocated among school districts and charter schools;
(4)(e) requiring reporting of grant money expenditures and evidence showing that the grant money has been used to implement reduced use of energy or water; and
(4)(f) establishing technology standards.
(5) The state board shall establish a review panel to consider grant applications under this section, which shall include in addition to a representative for the state board, representation from the Office of Energy Development, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Division of Water Resources, and private energy providers.
(6) By no later than the 2027 November interim meeting of the following, the state board shall report on the effectiveness of grants issued under this section to the following:

(6)(a) Education Interim Committee; and
(6)(b) Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.

Legislative History

Enacted by Chapter 142, 2023 General Session