This report notes that RMP provides about 80% of the State’s electrical power, the balance coming principally from public municipals. Thus, the values in Table 1 will be low. Further, Utah is not self-sufficient in petroleum and imports about 72% of its petroleum consumed. Figure 1 shows that currently, nearly 99% of Utah’s energy production is from these three conventional fossil fuels. Renewable resources provide only 1.3% of the total. While it is anticipated that renewable and alternative energy sources will likely grow at more rapid rates than the conventional fossil fuels, by 2020, Utah’s energy will still be dominated by fossil fuels. To illustrate this, these 10-year projections for Utah can be compared to the federal government’s energy plan which goes to 2035.4 The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects a 14% increase in consumption from 2008 to 2035, an annual growth rate of only 0.5%, significantly less than projected for Utah’s growth rate (Table 1). The U.S. also projects a significant growth rate in renewables and biofuels. It also projects small increases in coal and natural gas with declining reliance on imported petroleum. Currently, the conventional fossil fuels provide 84% of the U.S. energy demand. By 2035, the U.S. projects the fossil fuel percentage will drop from 84% to 78%. This is an important observation for Utah’s 10-year energy plan. The U.S. has an aggressive program to expand renewable and alternative energy sources. Yet, even by 2035, the U.S. will still be principally dependent on these three fossil fuels. It is very likely that, even with aggressive efforts toward renewable energy sources, Utah must continue to rely principally on fossil fuels over the next 10 years. To meet future demand, Utah should continue to use existing fossil fuel resources and augment with new, costeffective energy efficiency, renewable, and alternative energy resources to the extent it is technically and economically feasible, and continue the research and development of clean and secure energy through research centers around the State, e.g., the Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy Research Center in Vernal. Utah’s dependence on imported transportation fuels is a concern over the next ten years. Utah currently imports about 72% of its petroleum to meet transportation needs. This is similar to U.S. imports of its petroleum which is considered to be a national crisis. As discussed elsewhere in this report, Utah has vast reserves of oil shale and oil sands in the Green River formation in eastern Utah.
Newer, cleaner technologies have been developed to produce liquid transportation fuels from these unconventional resources.5 Shale oil has been and is being commercially produced in Brazil, China and Estonia.6 A single small oil shale plant would have the capacity to produce 6,000 bbl/day of oil, which is about 11% of Utah’s daily consumption of about 53,000 bbl/day.7
III. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON UTAH’S ENERGY RESOURCES A. Status of Utah’s Energy Resources Utah’s energy portfolio should include fossil fuels, alternative fuels, renewable resources, and energy efficiency. Diversifying Utah’s energy base not only provides jobs and revenues, but also critical resources and energy to fuel Utah’s broader business and industrial sectors. Coal: In 2008, Utah produced its one-billionth ton of coal. In 2009, Utah ranked 13th in the nation in the production of coal at 21.9 million tons and coal made up about 47% of Utah’s total produced energy resources.
UTAH INGENUITY AT WORK DESERET POWER Deseret Power operates a coal fired power plant in northeastern Utah generating 458 MW of power for Utah. To address air quality concerns they are working towards two innovative ideas to both decrease emissions and reduce waste product. A new 110 MW coal fired unit will utilize waste byproduct eliminating the need to landfill and the best technology would be used to minimize emissions. Additionally Deseret is considering a 100 MW coal fired project that would capture 90% of CO2 emissions and sequester CO2 potentially for oil recovery.
Utah’s 10-Year Strategic Energy Plan
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