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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley news Volume XV Issue XII June 1, 2008 Utah’s Energy Use and Resources: Powering Our Standard of Living On May 8, Utah Foundation released a research report examining Utah’s energy use, energy resources, and what Utahns can expect as far as energy prices and supplies in the future. The full report, entitled “Utah’s Energy Use and Resources: Powering Our Standard of Living,” is available at <www. utahfoundation.org> An executive summary is also available on the website. This report was written in response to the findings of the Utah Priorities Survey that was conducted in January 2008, and which ranked energy, including gas prices, as the number one issue of concern for Utahns, even trumping Utah’s perennial favorite issue—education. The following are the major findings from the report: • The main energy sources consumed in Utah are coal, natural gas, petroleum, and hydro electricity. Coal is Utah’s most-consumed energy source, and is Utah’s primary source of electricity; natural gas is the state’s primary heating fuel. • Abundant in-state energy resources have contributed to a low-cost, high standard of living for Utahns. In the short term, Utah prices will likely continue to be competitive compared to the rest of the country. • In the long term, while energy prices in Utah will likely continue to rise, due to increasing domestic and global demand, prices will probably remain competitive relative to the rest of the country. • The availability of Utah’s oil, coal, and natural gas is limited; 50-100 years from now, fossil fuels will start to run out. This could either result in serious consequences for those societies built predominantly on fossil fuels, or in the innovation of new methods for powering the high standard of living that Utahns enjoy. • Renewable and nuclear energies are currently the only known sources of energy that are not subject to the same diminishing supplies as fossil fuels. While in the short run they will be more expensive and less efficient to adopt, they remain a consistently viable source of energy into the distant future. In regards to Utah’s energy situation, Utah Foundation Research Analyst David Newell said, “The good news is that Utahns generally enjoy large quantities of cheap energy, relative to the rest of the country. The bad news is that it won’t last forever. Utah, which depends heavily on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, will need to start looking into other energy sources that are viable in the long run, such as nuclear and renewable energy, in order to maintain the standard of living Utahns have come to expect.” Often called “clean” or “green” energy, renewable energy is energy from natural resources, such as wind, plants, sunlight, rain, tides, and heat from the earth. The resources for renewable energy are not depleted with use or are replenished in a short amount of time, as opposed to other sources of energy, such as coal or natural gas. The U.S. has vast amounts of renewable resources available. The primary types of renewable energy include water, biomass, wind, solar, and geothermal. Hydropower, the most common and least expensive renewable energy resource, generates electricity from flowing water; the amount that is produced depends on the amount of precipitation in any given year. While the availability of hydropower electricity fluctuates with rainfall, new technologies are being developed to harness the energy from ocean currents, tides, and waves. Biomass energy is derived from nonfossilized material from plants, such as wood and wood waste, which are the largest sources of biomass energy. Municipal solid waste and alcohol bio fuels are the next-largest sources of biomass energy. Wind energy is harvested from wind turbines that are modern versions of the windmill. Wind power is the fastest-growing energy technology in the world. Wind currently represents 3% of total renewable energy use in the U.S. and accounts for 5% of renewable energy sources consumed by the electric power sector. Solar energy is created from the collection and conversion of sunlight into heat and electricity. Ninety percent of solar energy is used to produce heat, with the remaining energy being used for electricity. Geothermal energy is extracted by drilling into the earth’s surface. Heated steam or water then rises and powers steam turbines and electrical generators. Geothermal energy is used primarily fro electricity and accounts for 6% of total renewable energy consumption in the U.S. There are several barriers to using renewable energy that must be addressed, such as its reliability and costs associated with production and transportation. As a result of these issues, the cost of renewable energy can be higher than other sources of energy. Also, the infrastructure that must be built to gather renewable energy— windmills or dams, for example—can have negative impacts on the landscape and wildlife habitats where they are located. Despite these concerns, the demand for renewable energy is expected to rise as the public becomes increasingly aware of diminishing fossil fuel supplies and environmental issues, such as climate change and air pollution. Only a small portion of Utah’s energy comes from renewable resources; in 2006, 2.3% of Utah’s electrical generation was from renewable sources. In March 2008, Governor Huntsman signed the Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative. The bill states that beginning in 2025, 20% of the adjusted sales from electrical corporations and municipal utilities must come from renewable sources, if cost effective. By April 2008, 25 states and the District MONASTERY cont. from page 1 in an on site pit. Safety is key, so be sure to wear heavy boots, gloves, old clothes and safety glasses. Sun protection will also be important, although the event will take place rain or shine. Tool belts, hammers, and pry bars/ nail removers will also be beneficial, and we are still in need of the following: $ Chain Saws $ Small sledge Hammers $ Shovels $ Metal Cutters $ Desserts $ Blocks of ice $ 6 x 6 or 10 x 10 Tarps $ Garden Rakes $ Stiff Brooms $ Heavy-duty Dust Pans Thanks for your generosity and support, and we look forward to working with you on the May 31. of Columbia had enacted Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs), and 4 states— Utah, Missouri, Virginia, and Vermont— had non-binding goals that are voluntary goals for adopting renewable energy as opposed to portfolio standards with binding targets. Utah’s bill is considered more of a Renewable Portfolio Goal, rather than a standard, because it stated that renewable energy must comprise 20% of adjusted electricity sales only if such energy is cost-effective. Also, there are no interim renewable goals before the enactment of the bill in 2025. Utah enjoys some distinct advantages when compared to the rest of the nation. Utah produces more overall energy than it consumes and is therefore a new exporter of energy products. However, in the case of oil, Utah is a net importer. As a result, Utah will likely continue to have competitive energy prices. Note: The mission of Utah Foundation is to promote a thriving economy, a well-prepared workforce, and a high quality of life for Utahns by performing thorough, wellsupported research that helps policymakers, business and community leaders, and citizens better understand complex issues; and by providing practical, well-reasoned recommendations for policy change. For questions, or to volunteer, please contact Howard Schuyler at 801-209-4547 / bigsky@relia.net ; Jim Truett at 801-5402083 / jtruet@millerwelds.com ; or Richard Sorensen at 745-0945 / rsor@msn.com Additionally, donations are still being accepted for the Woolsey Farm Relief Fund. You may donate electronically at The Ogden Valley Forum, www.OgdenValley.blogspot.com or at any Zion’s Bank branch, including our own Valley Market branch. Checks made out to “The Woolsey Farm Relief Fund” may also be sent to: WOOLSEY FARM RELIEF FUND DONATION ACCOUNT #553317405 C/O ZIONS BANK 2555 WOLF CREED RD EDEN UT 84310 A portion of the proceeds from the Huntsville Town Independence Day VIP Package/Harley Give Away will also go to the Woolsey Farm Relief Fund. Visit www. 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