State and Local Policy Database

Provo

City Scorecard Rank

n/a

Provo, UT

Scored out of 250Updated 05/2024
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 1 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All

Climate Mitigation Goal

The city does not have a community-wide climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.

Energy Reduction Goal

We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.

Renewable Energy Goal

We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.

Last updated: September 2021

Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All

Equity-Driven Community Engagement

We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.

Equity-Driven Decision-Making

We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.

Equity Accountability Measures

We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups. 

Last updated: September 2021

Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All

Provo partnered with BYU to develop a cogeneration plant that would provide the campus with most of its heating and cooling needs.

Last updated: September 2021

Adaptive Mitigation List All

UHI Mitigation Goal

We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.

UHI Policies and Programs

Provo allows the creation of open space subdivisions and grants density bonuses for the preservation of open space in those subdivisions.

Last updated: September 2021

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All

We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.

Last updated: July 2021

Buildings Policies
Score: 1.5 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All

Overview

Utah’s Uniform Building Code (UUBC) for residential and commercial building energy codes is mandatory statewide. The UUBC is based on the 2018 IECC with weakening amendments. While localities may adopt stretch codes, it is a difficult process to do so. To learn more about Utah’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database

Commercial

Commercial construction in Provo complies with the Utah Codes. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code of 53.7. We could not find information about any city-led efforts to advocate stricter state energy codes. 

Residential

Residential construction in Provo complies with the Utah Codes. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 65.5. We could not find information about any city-led efforts to advocate stricter state energy codes. 

Solar-readiness policies

The city has not adopted a policy mandating new construction be solar-ready.

EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies

The city has not adopted a policy mandating new construction be EV-ready.

Low-energy use requirements

We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings

Last Updated: October 2021

Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All

The city requires plan reviews, site inspections, and performance testing to verify energy code compliance. We could not find information on the number of full-time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.

Last updated: July 2021

Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All

We could not find information on whether the city incentivizes or requires energy-saving actions in existing buildings.

Last updated: July 2021

Transportation
Score: 2 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All

Sustainable Transportation Plan

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

VMT/GHG Target and Stringency

The City of Provo does not yet have a codified VMT reduction target.

Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets

The City of Provo is not yet tracking community GHG or VMT levels

Last Updated: December 2021

Location Efficiency List All

Location Efficient Zoning 

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

Residential Parking Requirements

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosures

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

Last Updated: December 2021

Mode Shift List All

Mode Shift Target 

No data or city is not pursuing 

Progress Toward Mode Shift Target

No progress has been achieved, as there are no targets in place.

Complete Streets

No Policy Found 

Last Updated: December 2021

Public Transit List All

Transportation Funding

We could not determine the average annual transit funding per capita for the city of Provo.

Access to Transit Services

The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Provo Transit Connectivity Index value is 6, scoring 0.5 points in the City Scorecard.

Last Updated: December 2021

Efficient VehiclesList All

Vehicle Purchase Incentives

Neither the City of Provo or any of the utilities that service its residents are providing incentives towards the purchase of EVs at this time. 

Incentives for EV Charging Stations

Rocky Mountain Power offers several incentives to its customers for the installation of EVSEs and is currently offering $200 to owners of PEVs for their participation in a time of use rate charging pilot. 

EV Infrastructure

The City has 27 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 23.2 ports per 100,000 people.

Electric School Bus Goal

Provo does not have an electric school bus goal.

EV Transit Bus Goal

Provo does not have an EV transit bus goal.

Last Updated: December 2021

Freight System EfficiencyList All

Provo does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.

Last Updated: December 2021

Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All

Affordable New TOD Housing Policy 

Provo does not have any policies in place to address or help encourage affordable TOD housing development. 

Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options

Neither the City of Provo nor the transit authority that services the city's residents provide rebates or incentives that better connect low-income residents to efficient transportation options. 

Last Updated: December 2021

Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 1 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All

Provo Power, a municipally-owned utility (MOU), is the primary electric utility for the City of Provo. Dominion Energy Utah, an IOU, is Provo’s primary natural gas supplier. The State of Utah requires utilities to biennially file integrated resource plans to include demand-side resources and associated programs. Utah’s electric utilities must reduce the state’s electric consumption by 1% annually, and natural gas must decrease by 0.5% annually. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Utah page of the State Database

The City of Provo Public Works Department is the municipal utility that provides the City of Provo with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.

Last Updated: July 2021

Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All

In 2019, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Provo City Power had 721 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.09% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Provo. In 2019, Provo Power spent $1,035,000 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 1.52% of its retail revenue. 

In 2019, Dominion Energy Utah either did not spend or did not report spending or savings on natural gas efficiency programs. These savings and spending figures cover the entire jurisdiction of both utilities, not just the City of Provo. 

Provo Power offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential customers. Dominion Energy similarly offers natural gas efficiency tips and resources to residential and incentives to business customers. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All

Low-Income Programs 

At this time, Provo City Power currently does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers. 

Dominion Energy offers the Low-Income Efficiency Program, provides funds to address natural gas-related issues, and high-efficiency natural gas furnaces when needed and correct problems such as gas leaks, high carbon monoxide levels, inappropriate venting of natural gas appliances, and adjustment of natural gas appliances. Spending values, energy savings, and number of customers served by their 2019 program were not available. 

Multifamily Programs 

At this time, Provo City Power and Dominion Energy currently do not have multifamily programs. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All

Provo Power provides whole-building benchmarking services to customers. The City of Provo does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning and evaluation purposes. The City of Provo does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All

Utility Climate Mitigation Goal  

Provo City Power does not have a greenhouse gas reduction goal in place. 

City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid 

We were unable to determine the carbon emissions per capita from Provo City Power in 2019. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All

Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals 

The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. The City of Provo has a water savings goal of reducing per capita by 25% based on 2000 levels by 2025. 

Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation 

The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Local Government Score:
0 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All

Climate Mitigation Goal

Provo does not have a climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.

Energy Reduction Goal

We were unable to find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal.

Renewable Energy Goal

We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.

Last updated: June 2021

Procurement and Construction Policies List All

Fleet policies and composition 

We were unable to find information on Provo’s fleet procurement policies or fuel-efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.

Public lighting 

We were unable to find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We were unable to confirm if Provo has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.

Onsite and offsite renewable systems

We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite renewable energy systems in Provo.

Inclusive procurement

We were unable to verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.

Last updated: June 2021

Asset Management List All

Building Benchmarking

We were unable to find information regarding Provo’s benchmarking practices.

Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy

We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Provo.

Last updated: June 2021