- Utah generated more energy from solar than any other type of energy in May.
- Representatives encourage energy expansion using an “all-of-the-above” approach.
- Renewable energy is receiving less federal support than traditional means, complicating growth.
- Rep. Celeste Maloy and Gov. Spencer Cox are both advocating for energy reform in Utah.
- Energy reform could benefit the Utah economy.
The use of solar energy is increasing in the United States, and Utah is no exception.
Utah generated more energy from solar than any other type of energy in May, according to data released by Ember.
Utah’s ideal conditions for solar generation, available land for energy and transmission projects, and rich mineral deposits have led to recent expansion of the renewable energy industry throughout the state.
“Federally, people are taking notice of what we do in Utah,” Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, said while meeting with industry leaders and community stakeholders at the Horseshoe Solar Farm on Monday.
Maloy said the increased solar energy use is part of Utah’s “all-of-the-above” energy approach, which is focused on expanding resources in multiple energy production avenues.
“The days of saying ‘this or this’ are behind us,” Maloy said. “It’s going to have to be ‘and’ from here on out. We need nuclear and solar and hydro and whatever else comes along.”
Implementing an “all-of-the-above” approach will benefit consumers statewide, Maloy said, but it faces a big hurdle that complicates implementation: getting supportive legislation through Congress.
The growth of renewable energy faces competition from traditional sources
Maloy said implementing energy reform is a bipartisan issue among the American people.
“This is one of the things that the American public has been very clear that they want,” Maloy said. “Everybody agrees it needs to be done.”
However, while the use of renewable energy in Utah grows, it faces competition with gas and coal energy production, which both maintain terawatt generation just slightly below solar energy.
The competition is heightened by recent changes to renewable energy subsidies under the Trump administration that scaled back federal support for the renewable energy industry.
In turn, the administration has provided support for the gas, oil and coal industries, including approving thousands of new oil drilling permits, committing federal funds to support the coal industry, and opening hundreds of millions of…
Read More: Renewable energy is growing in Utah, but not without obstacles – Deseret
