Utah’s Energy Climate

A discussion of climate and energy policy

in Utah.

Elisabeth (Lis) Cohen, M.S.

lcohen@utah.gov

http://energy.utah.gov/energy/

Governor Huntsman is chair of the Western Governors’ Association this year.

Utah Energy Policy

• Promote development of renewable resources• Promote study of nuclear power• Promote development of resources and

infrastructure; reducing dependence on international energy sources

• Promote development of nonrenewable resources

• Pursue energy conservation, energy efficiency and environmental quality

• Streamline regulatory processes• Encourage expedited federal action• Provide an environment for stable consumer

prices

Utah Energy Strategy• Diversify Energy Portfolio of Renewables and Non-

Renewables • Promote Economic Development• Improve Energy Efficiency and Conservation• Improve Environmental Quality and Reduce

Greenhouse Gases• Develop Transmission and Transportation• Maintain or Improve our Quality of Life

State of UtahGovernor’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on

Climate Change www.deq.utah.gov/Issues/Climate_Change/index.htm

Governor Huntsman is working to address climate change.

Governor Huntsman, is

making climate

change a priority for

WGA.

This year WGA is

working with Chinese

dignitaries to reduce GHGs.

www.westernclimateinitiative.org

Western Climate Initiative (WCI)

• Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions– Partners:

• 7 western states• 4 Canadian provinces (figure)

– Observers:• 6 US states• 1 Canadian province• 6 Mexican states

• Components:– GHG emissions reduction goal– Join The Climate Registry (figure)– Clean car standards (Pavley)– Design and implement market-based mechanism to

reduce GHG emissions (i.e. cap-and-trade program)

Utah is participating in the climate registry which focuses on greenhouse gas emissions.

• Members measure and report emissions – carbon dioxide– methane– nitrous oxide (N2O)– hydrofluorocarbons

(HFCs)– perfluorocarbons

(PFCs)– sulfur hexafluoride

(SF6)

• www.theclimateregistry.org

Utah’s GHG Emissions Reduction Goal is to

reduce emissions to 2005 levels by 2020. • A 28% reduction in emissions over 2020 business as

usual (BAU)

• Over 27 million tons of carbon reductions over BAU

• Over 9 tons per person reduced in 2020 or one mid-sized sedan or small SUV for one year's worth

of driving (15,000 miles)

• Compares to a WCI-wide goal of reducing emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020

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Chart #1: Utah Green House Gas Reduction Goal

Governor Huntsman’s Energy Efficiency Goal

Increase Energy Efficiency by 20% by 2015 from 2005 Baseline

Lead By Example with State Buildings and Vehicle Fleets

State-wide and Economy-wide

Renewable Energy Zones UREZ and WREZ

GOALS

• Increase production of electricity from renewable energy resources to meet the energy needs of Utah and the West, and

• Attain the Utah renewable energy target of 20% by 2025

Wind – BlueGreenRed- yellow

A couple of examples of renewable energy in Utah.

Wasatch Wind Spanish Fork, UT

This nine-turbine wind farm project at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon, UT is estimated to provide over 55,000,000 kwh annually of electricity, equivalent to powering over 6,100 average Utah homes per year.

A new geothermal power plant is being constructed in Southern Beaver County, UT. This power plant will produce approximately 10 MWe in 2008 and approximately 235 MW of energy is available for future development.

Transportation Fuels

• “Our second goal will be to designate Interstate 15 from Idaho to Arizona as a natural gas corridor…this will require adding infrastructure, looking differently at our regulatory approach and demanding that we look beyond the here and now.” Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06GC6Z2fmn0fp/340x.jpg

http://www.questargas.com/FuelingSystems/NGV/ngv.html

MORE INFORMATIONMORE INFORMATION

www.climatechange.utah.gov

www.deq.utah.gov

www.utah.gov/energy/

www.geology.utah.gov

www.utahcleanenergy.org

In Summary, Utah is working to:

• Diversify Energy Portfolio of Renewables and Nonrenewables

• Improve Energy Efficiency

• Improve Environmental Quality and Reduce Greenhouse Gases

• Develop Transmission and Transportation

• Encourage Energy Security

• Promote Economic Development