Energy Evolutions

From our home state of Utah comes this characteristically defeatist piece of news with some nuggets of fact concerning the current renewable energy policy around these parts.

Something about a task force investigating, updating, and reporting to the government on our resources, potential, and installation and transmission costs to meet the state’s goal of generating 20% of its own power from renewable sources by 2025. IF it’s cost-effective. Plenty of wiggle room there.

The story from the Salt Lake Tribune reports the following numbers for the present renewable energy situation in Utah:

Wind:

• Utah currently has about 19 megawatts of wind power in Spanish Fork Canyon.
• PacifiCorp reports having four projects with 857 megawatts “in progress.”
• The big barriers to developing wind power are initial costs and access to transmission lines.

Solar

• Utah has considerable solar power potential, especially in the western and southwestern parts of the state.
• Southern Utah has about 300 sunny days per year.
• There is no commercial development of solar power in Utah.
• Again, cost of development and access to transmission lines are the biggest obstacles.

Geothermal

• There are limited resource areas in Utah.
• PacifiCorp reports 82.5 megawatts “in progress.”
• Geothermal is a baseload source of power, meaning it produces a steady supply of electricity.
• There are high upfront costs for drilling, transmission is an issue and projects take longer to develop.