Provo
City Scorecard Rank
95
Provo, UT
5.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
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