Latest news with #Utahns'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: Upgrading Utah's power grid will help us achieve energy abundance
They say the best time to plant a tree is yesterday. The best time for transmission buildout was 20 years ago. Transmission buildout is not optional. It is a necessary next step in achieving affordable, clean energy access for all Utahns and updating our power grid. To move energy across the state from city centers in Salt Lake City to more rural areas like Cache Valley or Tooele County, updating our aging infrastructure is a necessity. This necessity is growing daily, as is the need for modernization and build-out in order to meet the Beehive State's rapidly growing energy demand. Once we're done playing catch-up, Utah is uniquely positioned to get ahead of the curve and become a national leader in this new frontier of energy abundance. Many Utahns are well aware of this fact, and Governor Cox is no exception. He has championed Operation Gigawatt, Utah's new plan for powering its energy future, over the past year. Even if Utah produces all the energy in the world, however, it won't matter without the means to transport it across the state. Fortunately, the plan has stated 'increasing transmission capacity' as one of the four key areas of the initiative. At a time when energy demand is skyrocketing, Operation Gigawatt could not have come along sooner. With 70% of U.S. transmission lines over 25 years old and nearing the end of their useful life, our nation faces an undeniable need for infrastructure improvement. The time for transmission buildout is now. As one of the fastest-growing states in both economy and population, Utah must keep up with the ever-growing need for power. Our population is spreading out across the state due to city centers filling up fast, and the energy needs follow. While the need to produce more clean, sustainable energy will come, the production is not the only problem. The U.S. has nearly 2,600 gigawatts of energy generation trapped in the queue waiting to be connected to the grid and reach Utahns who need it most. This is enough energy to power 2,277,600 homes on average a year, and it is simply not being used. If we focus more effort on transmission buildout, we can utilize the energy that is just sitting there and be prepared to transport newly produced energy more effectively in the future. This means transmission buildout should be at the top of our priority list. Yet another benefit to building out our transmission is that Utahns' existing monthly bills will go down, and the ability for local economies to grow will skyrocket. Transmission buildout projects such as the Cross-Tie transmission line — a 214-mile line connecting Utah and Nevada, expected to be in service by 2028 — not only aid us in our effort toward energy dominance, but also provide a wide range of jobs to local communities with otherwise very little economic stimulation. These projects could help small businesses in these rural communities simply by bringing the power and more people into town. The bottom line is that right now is the time for transmission buildout in Utah, and it should be at the forefront of the conversation surrounding energy grid development. Expanding the grid will benefit all Utahns across the board by lowering monthly bills and reducing reliance on high-cost power sources. Along with cheaper energy, providing more renewable energy access means less price volatility for Utah, and modernizing the grid also creates jobs and economic growth in local communities. We should have planted our tree 20 years ago, but there is no better time than the present to put transmission buildout at the top of our priority list and begin achieving energy abundance for Utah.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The shape of Utah's water supply heading into the summer months
Utah's snowpack, which reached its peak late in March, suffered rapid depletion in April in most basins in the state to well-below normal precipitation. This culminates in a spring runoff that does not spin a good outcome. 'Resultingly, the water supply forecasts issued in this report predict substantially lower runoff volumes than those from last month,' according to the latest Utah Water Supply Outlook report issued this week by the Utah Snow Survey of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The report said as of May 1, Utah's statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) was 64% of normal (39% lower than last year's May 1 value, and a 28% drop from last month) Utah's fickle weather has many residents concerned. A poll released earlier this year said slightly less than half of Utahns seem to believe the state has enough water to meet our needs today, but 57% doubt that we will have enough water 20 years from now, according to a new study of Utahns' perceptions and priorities regarding water. The study released in April and was conducted by Envision Utah in partnership with Utah Water Ways, the Utah Division of Water Resources and the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner. Interestingly, 9 out of 10 respondents believe that they use less water than the average household, but 41% feel guilty for the amount of water they use on their landscaping. They also erroneously believed that more water is used statewide on indoor uses (like showering or washing dishes) than on outdoor irrigation and landscaping. At the time, Jason Brown, executive vice president of communications and education at Envision Utah, said a surprise takeaway from the survey is the worry by Utah residents that there will not be enough water to meet demand 20 years from now. 'To be honest, from a water conservation perspective, we were a little bit relieved that there's that much concern about the future because our water does sort of cycle from year to year, where one year we have a really dry year, we don't have a ton of snowpack, and then, you know, the next year we might have a lot more. It's easy to maybe get dismissive and say, 'You know what? It's going to be just fine.'' The latest numbers released in the NRCS report this week underscore the disparities that happen in how Mother Nature treats Utah when it comes to water. It shows: Extremely poor snowmelt runoff is forecasted for southern Utah, while northern Utah forecasts are more optimistic. Values range from 7% to 35% of average for the Southeastern Utah, Escalante-Paria, and Southwestern Utah regions, with the Upper Sevier only slightly better. Farther north, the Price-San Rafael and Duchesne basins have snowmelt runoff predictions in the 50% to 82% of average. Closer to the Wasatch Front, the forecast numbers vary widely; from as low as 28% of average for West Canyon Creek near Cedar Fort to as high as 93% of average for the Provo River at Woodland. Second only to Oregon, Utah is in the best overall condition for reservoir storage in the West, sitting at 83% of average, down only 4% from last year. While intermittent rainstorms this month have helped to delay the need for irrigation, the NRCS and other water watchers stress that conservation is vital to keep reservoir storage as stable as possible so there is enough carryover for next year. Michael Sanchez, spokesman for the Utah Division of Water Resources, said it is important for people to be vigilant. 'Conservation will be key as we move into summer. We do have a strong reservoir storage kind of throughout the state, but southern Utah is still struggling,' he said. Sanchez mentioned the drought declaration Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued last month for 17 counties, stressing the need for conservation and the wise use of water. 'We just want to make sure everyone is still taking that conservation mindset to heart and still still using water as wisely as they can,' Sanchez said. The division has a useful tool on its website advising residents of the amount of water they for landscaping given a specific area's condition. .
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These new Utah laws take effect Wednesday
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Two months after this year's general legislative session ended, many new laws are taking effect. The laws will impact Utahns' lives on a variety of issues, from health and safety to how much we pay in taxes to housing. Here's a look at what's changing starting Wednesday. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks in Salt Lake City on April 7. Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, HB81 bill sponsor, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, listen. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Health The Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City, on Feb. 8, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Business and taxes Fatal doses of heroin and fentanyl are on are display at the Drug Enforcement Administration Salt Lake City District Office in Salt Lake City on July 25, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Crime and policing Signage from Oak Ridge National Labratory is displayed during The Advanced Reactors Summit XII and Technology Trailblazers Showcase held by the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council in Salt Lake City on Feb. 18. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Transportation, energy and environment Nuclear energy : Utah is pushing to go nuclear. HB249, which takes effect Wednesday, is designed to lay the groundwork for bringing nuclear power to the state. It creates the Nuclear Energy Consortium to advise on nuclear development in Utah and recommend appropriate regulations for it, among other things. Water conservation: Municipalities in Utah now have to factor in water conservation when setting water rates under HB274. Road safety projects: SB195's one-year moratorium on road safety projects in Salt Lake City begins Wednesday, as the Department of Transportation studies the impacts of such projects. A voter drops their ballot in a drop box at the Utah County Health and Justice Building in Provo on Oct. 30, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Elections, transparency and governance Protesters unfurl a 200-foot transgender flag during the start of a march down State Street starting at the Capitol for Transgender Day of Visibility in Salt Lake City on March 29. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Social issues and education Flag ban: One of the most closely watched bills of the recent session, HB77, takes effect Wednesday, barring gay pride and 'Make America Great Again' flags from being flown in public school classrooms or at government buildings. Gender Inmates won't be able to initiate gender-related surgeries or hormone treatment while in prison. HB252 also requires inmates be housed in facilities matching their biological sex. It also prohibits staff in juvenile detention centers from engaging in sexual relationships with inmates in custody up to the age of 25. Hands-on education: Aimed at getting more high school students into career and technical education programs, HB447 will support 'catalyst centers' across the state. The new law championed by Utah's House speaker allocates $65 million to create or expand those centers in the next fiscal year, with an ongoing cost of $150,000 to manage the program. Isa Empey, left, and Haley Kline, center, both hold vigil candles during the annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Vigil in Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City on Dec. 19, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Housing and homelessness
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Nearly 950,000 planned to participate in 2025 Utah Great Shakeout
SANDY, Utah () — On Thursday, April 17, Utahns throughout the state will be practicing their for the day Utah gets hit by 'the big one.' The is a day dedicated to refreshing Utahns' earthquake safety skills. On the day of the drill, The Great ShakeOut says it registered to participate – most of which are students in K-12 schools and universities, but also include government officials, hospitals, and businesses. The exercise is scheduled to kick off at 10:15 a.m. Participants are encouraged to practice their earthquake procedures even if they aren't registered to take part. According to the , the Wasatch Fault, which stretches from southern Idaho through northern Utah into central Utah, releases a major earthquake about every 350-400 years. The most recent 'major' earthquake took place nearly 350 years ago. 'It's unfair': International PhD student at BYU speaks after his student visa was revoked Experts say there is a 57% probability that the Wasatch Front will experience at least one 6.0 magnitude or greater earthquake and a 43% probability of a 6.75 magnitude or greater earthquake in the next 50 years. UGS also says Utah has experienced only 17 earthquakes greater than a magnitude of 5.5 since 1847. The most recent was in 2020 when Magna was that rattled the Salt Lake valley and damaged buildings. In order to start preparing for 'the big one,' officials with say you should move or secure things that could fall on you. 'Look for heavy objects such as books and potted plants on high shelves, computer terminals, and top-heavy furniture that could topple or fall and injure you during an earthquake,' the website reads. 'Determine how such items can be secured. If they cannot be secured, be ready to move away from them in an earthquake.' Motorist finds body of 73-year-old man on side of I-15 In preparation for a possible earthquake, Utahns are also advised to have a communication plan with family members and a 14-day food and water storage. During an actual earthquake, take cover under something sturdy such as a desk, table or heavy piece of furniture. If you are in bed, stay there. If you're not in bed, drop to the ground. Most people are injured by objects falling on them, so move away from tall things that could topple and fall, as well as windows. In the moments after an earthquake, officials say you should report to a family meeting place or work rally point. Help locate those injured in the quake but be careful when walking in or around damaged buildings. Utahns should also be prepared for aftershocks that after the earthquake and drop, cover, and hold on when one strikes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
For 18th year, Utah ranks No. 1 for best economic outlook. What could threaten its top spot?
The Utah Capitol and its North Building construction is pictured in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Utah's top-ranking state Republicans called a news conference in front of the governor's mansion on Tuesday to celebrate yet another year of Utah ranking No. 1 for its economic outlook, according to a new report released by the pro 'limited government' think tank American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). To Gov. Spencer Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams, Utah taking the report's top spot for 18 years in a row validates how Utah's GOP-controlled Legislature has been managing the state, not just decades into the past, but also to this day. By nurturing a business-friendly climate with low personal and corporate tax rates along with 'family friendly' policies, they said Utah is continuing its nearly two-decade streak of setting an example for other states to follow. Alongside its No. 1 economic outlook ranking, Utah also ranked No. 3 in the nation in the ALEC report for 'economic performance' based on its gross domestic product growth, domestic migration and non-farm payroll employment growth. It's a ranking not all Utah leaders agree with, however, as some Democrats point to working class Utahns' struggle to afford to live in the state. Utah tops ALEC's list of states with the best economic outlook, again To Cox, Utah's secret sauce is state leaders' 'forward-thinking nature' on economic, business and tax policy that fosters growth over decades — work that he said isn't easy or 'sexy' in today's polarized political landscape. And it's work that takes years, sometimes decades, to have an impact. 'As I talk to my colleagues around the country, this is really rare,' Cox said. 'It's very unique. The incentive structure around elections is to only look forward maybe two years or four years at most in our state. And that is true of most states.' The governor said there's a 'pull' to focus today's legislation in reaction to national hot-button issues. Without naming names, he said he spoke with a fellow governor from 'a state that is very close to ours' who said 'the biggest problem I have with my Legislature right now is they only care about right now.' 'One of the reasons that a lot of states aren't doing the policy work that our Legislature is doing is because it's hard and it's boring,' he said. 'There are not a lot of great social media memes about policy work that was done 40 years ago, (like) truth and taxation stuff. This stuff isn't sexy. It's not fun. You don't see immediate results the next year, it's just not made for today.' Utah isn't immune to that 'pull,' Cox acknowledged. Political 'toxicity' is among the concerns he named that could threaten Utah's economic ranking, which he said could 'turn us into every other state, where we just focus on the stuff that really doesn't matter but gets the most attention.' 'I will just tell you, there are a lot of new legislators who came in not interested in this stuff,' Cox said. '(They're) really interested in a lot of other stuff that gets a lot of attention. And we have to be intentional about passing that on and making sure that every generation (of leaders), they realize that this is who we are. This stuff matters and we have to keep going.' He also named the state's stubbornly high housing costs and energy challenges as other issues that could spell trouble — but he also expressed optimism that the Utah Legislature is working to tackle those problems, not shy away. Cox didn't point to specific issues or legislators, but in recent years some of Utah's most attention-grabbing and controversial bills stem from national hot-button issues. Last year, the Legislature approved transgender bathroom restrictions and anti-DEI measures in higher education and public entities. This year, Utah became the first state in the nation to enact a broad flag ban in schools and government-owned buildings and the first to ban adding fluoride to public water. Cox supported and signed the fluoride ban, but allowed the flag ban to become law without his signature. An ALEC-backed bill, however, was among the most controversial to win approval from the 2025 Utah Legislature: HB267 which bans public sector unions from collective bargaining. In a Feb. 19 post, ALEC deemed the bill's sponsors 'policy champions' for their effort to 'increase government accountability to state taxpayers.' But a referendum effort is underway to overturn the law. Wednesday, the Protect Utah Workers Coalition is expected to deliver its signatures in its bid to put the referendum on the ballot. For its annual 'Rich States, Poor States' rankings, ALEC — a nonprofit that convenes state legislators and corporations to draft model legislation that is 'dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism,' according to its site — said its economic outlook rankings are a forecast based on state standings in 15 policy variables. 'Generally speaking, states that spend less — especially on income transfer programs — and states that tax less — particularly on productive activities such as working or investing — experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more,' the 2025 report says. Utah ranked high for its lack of an estate or inheritance tax, a low state minimum wage of $7.25, its status as a right-to-work state, and average workers' compensation costs of $0.86. It also won points for 'recently legislated tax changes' (lawmakers this year cut taxes for a fifth year in a row, totaling $1.4 billion over time), its flat corporate and income rate of 4.55%, and a relatively low property tax burden of $23.54 per $1,000 of personal income, among other policies. Utah Legislature OKs another round of tax cuts, totaling $1.4 billion in 5 years Adams, the state's Senate president, also pointed to a newly published report by the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute that shows Utah's median household income of $98,336 ranked the state highest in the U.S. when adjusted for price parity. 'I mean, how can you get better than being the No. 1 economy with the best personal income?' Adams, R-Layton said. 'You have families making a lot of money. And that is way cool. They can send their kids to college.' Though critics often point to Utah's bottom-of-the-nation rankings when it comes to per-pupil education spending, Adams said the state has been increasing public education spending, including a boost to teacher pay this year that legislative leaders say put Utah among the top states in the Mountain West with the highest starting salaries for teachers. 'We're cutting taxes and paying teachers more. How do you do that without a strong economy? … Not many states can do both,' Adams said. 'It's a great day, not only for the state of Utah, but it is a really good day for those that want to have personal wealth and be able to take care of their families.' Not everyone agrees that ALEC's rankings are a holistic indicator of Utah's performance as a state. One of the state's top Democrats, House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, issued a statement on Tuesday arguing that ALEC's report 'provides a concerningly biased evaluation of economic success in our state.' 'Rather than accounting for factors that affect regular working people and families, the index praises Utah for its low minimum wage and tax cuts in favor of corporations,' she said. That's problematic given that wages have not kept pace with cost of living, Romero said. She added that economic uncertainty under President Donald Trump's second administration could bring more stress for businesses and working-class families. 'Rising housing costs, increasing prices on basic necessities, and stagnant wages have left countless Utahns struggling to make ends meet in the very communities they've called home for generations,' she said. 'On top of that, federal layoffs and our current economic uncertainty have forced businesses to make difficult decisions, resulting in even more financial stress for working families across the state. All of this compounds a growing sense of fear and frustration.' Romero added that 'although we celebrate these rankings, we must not allow them to cloud over our shortfalls.' 'Utah has consistently ranked among the lowest states for women's equality, and is regularly listed among the ten worst states for workers, with particularly poor outcomes in wages, collective bargaining rights, and labor protections,' she said. 'As a state, we must protect the economic outlook for all Utahns, not only a select few.' For years, though, Utah's conservative leadership has applauded ALEC's rankings as a gold standard. Schultz, the House speaker, said ALEC's ranking shows Utah's success is 'rooted in the principles that work: low taxes, reasonable spending, and a business-friendly but most importantly a family-friendly environment that fosters innovation and upward mobility.' 'It's capitalism, it's competition,' Adams said. 'It's trying to make things better. I have 16 grandkids. Talk about vision. I want those 16 grandkids to have better upward mobility, to have a better life than I have. … That's what we do in Utah. Competition is a great thing, and I look forward to other states pushing us.' In that spirit of competition, Cox, Adams and Schultz chuckled when Jonathan Williams, ALEC president and co-author of the report, noted that one state is on the rise and could be giving Utah a run for its money in coming years: Tennessee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'We saw Tennessee this year move from No. 12 to No. 2, and now is nipping at the heels of Utah,' he said. Tennessee ranked high for its lack of a personal income tax, no estate tax, its low property tax burden, and 'personal income tax progressivity,' which the report defined as the difference between average tax liability per $1,000 at incomes of $50,000 and $150,000.' Utah leaders have repeatedly said they want Utah to get rid of its income tax — but that would require a major tax overhaul legislators have not yet tackled, and a drastic change to how the state funds public education, which is required under the Utah Constitution to be funded through income tax revenue. In the meantime, though, lawmakers continue to gradually cut the income tax rate. Speaking about Utah's competition with other states, though, Cox said he's happy to see Tennessee surface as a healthy competitor. 'They deserve it. I love what they're doing out there.' He added that the state is 'copying many things that are happening in Utah, and I couldn't be more proud.' He added Utah leaders 'reject the zero-sum mindset. We do not believe that our economy is a zero-sum game, that if someone else wins, we lose. That's not how we look at it.' Still, the governor indicated Utah will continue to look for ways to keep its No. 1 ALEC ranking. He half-jokingly said at the end of Tuesday's news conference, 'We're going to take care of Tennessee. Don't worry.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
