NAIOP Utah hosted a legislative day at the state capitol last week to advance the interests and priorities of commercial real estate with state officials. A top priority for the chapter is the generation and transmission of additional power to meet demand for new commercial development.

Both Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives Mike Schultz and Utah Senate President Stuart Adams identified power generation as a priority during their remarks to the attendees, however, the two Republican-held chambers have not agreed on a legislative vehicle for achieving this goal. Schultz made clear that any legislative solution to the issue must not impact the utility costs for the end customer.

The chapter supports Senate Bill 227, sponsored by Utah Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore. Cullimore provided an overview of his legislation that will allow for new electrical generation to be built behind the meter in order to meet market demand. The legislation will allow customers with large load requirements to receive service from “alternative electrical providers” such as micro-generators that can be transmitted over public utility systems. The availability of energy, specifically electricity, has emerged as a major issue for the development industry. NAIOP has made the issue a top legislative priority at the federal level.

The event also included remarks from Margaret Busse, executive director for Utah’s Department of Commerce and Sophia Dicaro, executive director for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. Busse focused on the state’s professional licensing practices that support economic development and job creation, while Dicaro provided an overview of the state’s fiscal condition. The day concluded with a networking lunch for attendees, legislators and their staff under the capitol rotunda.