State • Utah
SB 21: Geothermal Amendments
Mike McKellEnacted
SB 21 status: Enacted — Governor Signed (updated Mar 26, 2026).
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What this bill does
Overall score
Score75/100 civic fit
RiskLow risk
ImpactModerate impact 55/100
Bill summary
OfficialSenators are currently working on updating the rules for how we use heat from the Earth to create energy.
Key analysis
Constitutionality90%
Bipartisan70%
Public opinion60%
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Impact analysis
Environment
Positive Outlook
75%
Benefits
- Encourages development of clean geothermal energy
- Modernizes resource management practices
Risks
- Possible site-specific impact on public lands
- Potential for water use conflicts
Economy
Positive Outlook
70%
Benefits
- May catalyze investment in the renewable energy sector
- Clarifies operational rules for geothermal developers
Risks
- Compliance costs for emerging energy entities
- Regulatory uncertainty during transition
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- No direct impact on general social welfare identified
Risks
- No direct impact on general social welfare identified
3
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
lowlow
Analysis status
OpenStates summary
Warning
Unclear impact on established water rights in geothermal zones
Limitation
Analysis based on a brief summary provided by OpenStates
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Where it stands
Governor Signed
Introduced
CompleteCommittee
CompleteFloor
CompleteGovernor
CompleteEnacted
Complete5
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