The State should continue to attract significant domestic and international investment funding. Such funding provides essential opportunities to help supplement the shortage of “seed” funding and second- and third-phase funding. Utah can be a national leader in energy resource management, environmental and technical training. Utah’s expertise in resource and environmental management has great potential to attract high-skilled, high-paying jobs. In summary, Utah’s energy jobs are in the research and development, investment, technology, exploration,
UTAH INGENUITY AT WORK BINGHAM ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ENERGY RESEARCH CENTER The Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy Research Center brings real life solutions to environmental issues by working hand in hand with industry on emerging technologies like Pure Stream. Additionally, the center works in partnership with Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Land Management other stakeholders to monitor winter-time ozone in the Uinta Basin to assist in determining a path forward addressing air quality issues.
extraction, development, production, transmission, distribution and manufacturing industries, as well as professional support services. These jobs help to support Utah’s position of being one of three states in the United States that is a net exporter of energy. If coalfired generation and hydroelectric resources decline, new and expanded industry and jobs will be needed in these rural communities. State government should promote continued state and federal land access for exploration, extraction and production of crude oil and natural gas, investment in unconventional fuels technologies and development and the recruitment of manufacturing of renewable energy production components. Utah must show an unwavering commitment to the future energy economy that includes balancing fossil fuel development with development of renewable and alternative energy.
V. ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCES Utah has the resources necessary to diversify its energy portfolio to provide affordable, sustainable, and secure energy now and in the future. Utah’s Energy Plan includes workable strategies to sustain its economy and protect its quality of life and environment.
A. Land Ownership Federal Lands — The federal government owns and manages approximately 60% of Utah’s surface lands and a larger portion of the mineral estate. Accordingly, federal land- management agencies will play a central role in the State’s ability to develop its oil, gas, coal and renewable energy resources. It is also true that the State’s public lands include pristine air sheds; national parks and wilderness areas; important water resources that are essential to local communities and wildlife habitat and riparian zones; world-renowned archeological and culturally significant sites; and, nationally recognized scenic areas and prized recreational locations. Conflicts inevitably arise between industry, conservation organizations, and state and local leaders over how and where energy development should occur on Utah’s public lands and what resources should be protected for their environmental and cultural values. These conflicts have triggered costly legal and administrative challenges that impact energy development in Utah. Energy development is a legitimate use of our public lands. To be successful in achieving the Governor’s energy-development objectives, Utah officials will need to develop
Utah’s 10-Year Strategic Energy Plan
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