The presence of even a single energy source is a valuable asset for a state to have, but Utah is in the enviable position of having an abundance of many energy resources. If Utah isn’t utilizing a resource, it’s because it hasn’t yet been developed, not because it doesn’t exist here. From enhanced geothermal systems to uranium processing, Utah is a national leader in resource diversity and potential.
Such a distinction is a major advantage because our modern lives are made possible and enhanced by the availability of energy. Today, energy literally runs the economy. From our homes, cars, and workplaces to lifesaving medical technologies; without energy, our modern way of life is not possible. In fact, if we didn’t have energy, it would bring catastrophic consequences to humanity. That is why Utah has taken such a strong stance on energy in the past few years.
During the 2024 General Legislative Session, the Utah Legislature worked with the Utah Office of Energy Development to revise and enhance Utah’s energy policy, which includes prioritizing consumers and their needs above anything else.
(Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office | Sponsored) Solar field.
Our policy shift was essential in securing reliable access to affordable energy for the future, especially because out-of-state influences have put our current energy goals at risk, but there are limits to what Utah can do. With 63% of our public land controlled by the federal government, many of our aspirations are subject to lengthy, often project-killing permitting and licensing. The Deseret News recently detailed how geothermal development and projects like TransWest Express (transmission lines) took nearly 15 years due to these challenges.
Restrictive policies and the onerous permitting process force developers to choose the path of least resistance, which frequently involves placing projects on agricultural and other private land. Private landowners, often against their will, end up hosting energy projects that can severely limit how they can develop and use their land. With the prospect of eminent domain hanging over their heads, most private landowners can’t afford costly lawsuits. Although this approach can reduce delays for developers, it risks increasing costs, losing public support for projects, and leading to inefficient land use.
If Utah is going to continue enjoying some of the lowest energy costs in the nation, we need flexibility in how we manage our resources. Our state – not the federal government – should be making decisions on how to use local land because we better understand our resources, needs, and challenges. Geothermal is a prime example. In 2020, Congress passed the Energy Act, which directed federal land management agencies to streamline permitting for solar, wind, and geothermal projects. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) responded by proposing the “Rights-of-Way, Leasing and Operations for Renewable Energy” rule, which streamlined permitting for solar and wind projects, but failed to include geothermal. Such selective policies restrict Utah’s ability to continue its “any-of-the-above” approach and hamper the development of our significant geothermal resources. When the federal government picks winners and losers through regulation and land control, it acts contrary to congressional intent and inhibits the ability of states like Utah to meet their energy goals.
In fact, addressing these land use challenges actually serves the federal government’s own strategic interests. The development of new energy infrastructure, particularly renewable infrastructure, requires increased resource extraction and processing. Developing these resources domestically not only helps the U.S. reach its energy goals, but also has the added benefit of increasing national security. Consider uranium, for instance. The Energy Act classified uranium as a fuels mineral and designated it as “near critical” recognizing its vulnerability to supply issues and price fluctuations due to geopolitical events. The Biden Administration’s decision to cease uranium imports from Russia is a prudent move that we support. Fortunately, Utah has ample uranium reserves and is home to the only mill in the country capable of processing uranium.
(Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office | Sponsored) A drilling rig at the Cape Station geothermal project, currently under construction in Beaver County, Utah. In the background is the Milford wind farm, which supplies electricity to Southern California.
Many minerals like uranium can be found in Utah, and some can be processed on-site, but federal controls place many, if not most, of those minerals out of reach due to protective land designations. Without meaningful reform of these restrictive land use policies, the U.S. risks falling short of securing essential resources needed for energy independence and national security.
At its founding, the federal government saw Utah as nothing more than a barren desert. Today, they deem our land so invaluable that development is stymied through land-use controls. The federal government’s current level of bureaucratic protectionism is stifling innovation in clean energy technologies and weakening national security. To secure our energy future and meet our energy goals, Utah must have more control over the land within our borders.
The urgency to act is clear: the nation’s energy future and security depend on it.