Salt Lake City Pushes for Renewable Energy Amid Global Tensions

Biden administration considers new costs and taxes on fossil fuel producers to accelerate shift to clean power.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:09pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured geometric shapes in shades of blue, green, and gray, conceptually representing the motion and energy of a wind turbine blade.Renewable energy advocates see an opportunity to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels amid global energy market volatility.Salt Lake City Today

Proponents of renewable energy see an opportunity to accelerate the push away from fossil fuels in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, as the Biden administration explores implementing new costs and taxes on both producers and consumers of traditional energy sources in Salt Lake City and across the country.

Why it matters

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has disrupted global energy markets, leading to spikes in oil and gas prices. This has renewed calls from environmental advocates to transition more quickly to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, which could reduce reliance on volatile global fossil fuel supplies.

The details

The Biden administration is considering a range of policy levers, including new taxes and fees on fossil fuel production and consumption, to incentivize a faster shift toward renewable energy in Salt Lake City and other parts of the country. This could include carbon pricing schemes, increased royalties on federal oil and gas leases, and other measures aimed at making traditional energy sources less economically attractive compared to clean power alternatives.

  • The Russia-Ukraine crisis began in February 2022.
  • The Biden administration has been exploring new energy policies since taking office in January 2021.

The players

Biden administration

The current presidential administration in the United States, led by President Joe Biden, which is considering new policies to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

Renewable energy proponents

Advocates and organizations pushing for a faster shift away from fossil fuels toward clean power sources like solar and wind.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Russia-Ukraine crisis has shown us the urgent need to reduce our reliance on volatile global fossil fuel supplies. Now is the time to double down on renewable energy investments.”

— Jane Doe, Director of Renewable Energy Alliance

“While we understand the desire to move quickly, we must also consider the economic impacts on energy producers and consumers. Any new policies must be carefully balanced to avoid unintended consequences.”

— John Smith, President, Utah Petroleum Association

What’s next

The Biden administration is expected to unveil its latest energy policy proposals in the coming months, which could include new taxes, fees, or other measures aimed at accelerating the transition to renewable power in Salt Lake City and across the country.

The takeaway

The Russia-Ukraine crisis has created a sense of urgency around reducing reliance on fossil fuels, but any new policies to promote renewable energy must be carefully balanced to avoid unintended economic impacts on energy producers and consumers in Salt Lake City and beyond.