Did you know Utah, all by itself, if it were to exert the effort, could provide all the electricity needed for the entire country? And, we could do it with just the boundless energy of the sun.
Yes, take this state’s solar capacity not for granted. It ranks as one of the top 10 states for the most sunny days. It has been listed as one of seven states with the best potential for solar.
The Bureau of Land Management once identified 17 “solar energy zones” in the U.S. — areas with the best potential for solar energy creation. Utah had three on the list: one in Escalante Valley, another in Milford Flats, and one more in Wah Wah Valley (spanning Beaver and Millard Counties).
There is room for more, with around 18 million acres of BLM land in Utah available for solar panel installation.
Picture it: A solar-powered Utah leading the nation’s transition towards clean energy.
This isn’t just wishful thinking. Our state has taken some significant steps towards embracing solar energy. There are already 12 solar farms dotting our Utah landscape, including the largest solar project to come to Utah — the Green River Energy Center in Emery County. It will come with a battery storage facility.
Seems some people think solar energy can only be used from sunup to sunset, but batteries provide power that extends through the night and can provide power on cloudy days.
No, Utah’s grand solar potential is not going to actually provide the electricity needed for all of America. But, if we made a concerted effort, we could certainly provide enough electricity for our own needs, and still have plenty to export to California and other states.
The journey to a cleaner, sun-powered future has begun, and Utah can jump to the forefront.
John Jackson, Sandy