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Utah’s Renewable Energy FutureDespite Utah’s incredible renewable energy potential, only 3% of our state’s energy comes from clean renewable sources. A poll conducted by KSL and the Deseret Morning news in the summer of 2007 found that 92% of Utahns support “government incentives and investment” in renewable energy—sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. This section examines the true potential we have for this state and the way we can achieve.
Wind PowerAccording to a recent study by the Utah Geologic Survey’s State Energy Program, Utah could meet 25% of its energy needs from wind power in 10 years. Wind power is already competitive and more economical to nuclear, and it can be put online rapidly. In fact, wind power grew by 2,700 megawatts (MW) in the U.S. in 2006 alone. That is the equivalent of two large nuclear reactors. So while there hasn’t been a reactor order placed since the 1970s, and it would take about 15 years to complete one ordered today, the equivalent of two reactors worth of wind came online in one year. Utahns are starting to see the benefits of wind. A 185 MW project in Milford County is expected to create 270 jobs during construction, and be up and running within a year.1 Solar Power2Utah’s solar power potential is even greater. The Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico has calculated that Utah’s concentrating solar potential is 450 gigawatts (GW)—enough to meet the needs of 1.4 billion people. Concentrating solar power uses mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy in order to heat a liquid and spin a turbine, much like the way traditional power plants work. In fact, Utah's concentrating solar potential could produce more electricity in one year than a 3,000 MW nuclear plant could produce in 40 years. Utah’s photovoltaic—or PV—potential is also high. PV solar is probably the type of solar you’re most familiar with. The great thing about PV is that it cuts down the costs of transmission lines and improves our electric grid because in general you are receiving and producing power in the same place. While it is currently more expensive than other forms of power, costs are coming down. And with that investment is increasing. A 1,000 MW concentrating solar plant in Utah would mean $2 billion to $4 billion in private investment, create 3,000 to 4,000 construction jobs, 250 permanent solar plant jobs mostly in rural areas, and bring $1 billion in state taxes.3 What about when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow? If solar and wind power were integrated together, they would balance each other out and provide energy during the day when the sun shines and energy at night when, usually, the wind blows. Geothermal Power4Geothermal power uses heat from the ground to produce energy. It provides base-load power, which means it is on all the time. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has estimated that geothermal energy could supply the U.S. with 100 GW by 2050 . That is equivalent to the current nuclear capacity in the U.S. It’s estimated that Utah has about 1 GW of geothermal capacity—enough for the needs of our current population, about 2.5 million people. Geothermal power is also cost competitive with new fossil fuel plants and according to the State Energy Program, could meet 12% of our energy needs in 20 years. A Path ForwardSo, what can we do to move our state’s energy policy in the right direction? How can we spur the development of our state’s abundant clean, renewable, and economic sources of energy? We can start by passing a Renewable Energy Standard like the one that Sen. Scott McCoy has introduced this legislative session. Sen. McCoy’s bill would set a goal of 25% of our electricity coming from renewable sources by 2025. Already 26 states have passed similar measures, including our neighbors in Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. The bill would set benchmarks and intermediate goals to get us from where we are today at 3% renewable energy to where we want to be at 25% in 2025. It is not voluntary, which means it is not up to the whims of the utility company whether to comply or not. However, it does provide ratepayer protection should renewable energy sources prove too costly to build. In Sen. McCoy’s bill, renewable means renewable. Non-renewable forms of energy—like nuclear power and coal with carbon sequestration--are not allowed to reduce the renewable energy goal. This plan would unlock the resources that we have in Utah and attract clean energy jobs and investment to our state. It would diversify our energy supply at a time when over 90% of it comes from coal. Rural areas would likely benefit the most because those areas have the highest potential for renewable energy development. But we would all benefit from cleaner air, and waste-free, carbon-free energy. To support this clean energy policy, click here.
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