Gov. Gary Herbert has unveiled an ambitious plan for Utah’s energy future. He wants to increase energy production in the state by 25 percent by the end of 2020.
Herbert released his “Energy Action Plan” at the Utah Energy Summit on May 15, setting in motion a blueprint on energy-related issues for the next two years.
“We will be able to produce 25 percent more energy,” Herbert said. “The question will be, what will be the fuel of choice.”
Herbert’s plan features 10 goals that include emphasizing infrastructure development for conventional, unconventional and alternative sources of energy. Building on his 10-year strategic energy plan released in 2011, Herbert established objectives that include the realization of a solar battery system in southern Utah by 2019 as part of an effort targeting rural business development.
“We needed to have something here to get us through 2020 that is a little more specific, particularly for rural Utah,” Herbert said.
At the summit, Herbert noted the abundance of natural gas, oil and coal in Utah; significant gains in renewable energy development; as well as the state’s geothermal resources.
Utah is one of two sites in the country still vying for U.S. Department of Energy funding and the opportunity to develop an underground laboratory researching ways to tap man-made geothermal reservoirs. Utah’s candidate is the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy site at Milford, which has been monitoring seismic activity since 1981 and has been the subject of intense drill and geothermal investigation and activity for 45 years.
Herbert thinks Utah’s chances are good. “I am optimistic. I think we are in a very good position. Our track record is good, and our resources are many,” he said, adding “it does help rural Utah and further that goal of economic development.”
Other goals in the plan call for improving the state’s performance in the arena of energy efficiency. Since 2015, the state has improved its score from 26th in the country to 17th based on rankings from the Advisory Committee on Energy Efficiency.
The balance between energy and air quality is also a big part of Herbert’s. Herbert said there is much work left to do, but Wasatch Front emissions have dropped 35 percent in the past decade.