Photo: Courtesy of Douglas Barnes Photography
Utah is Rich in Renewable Energy Resources
Florida May be the Sunshine State, but Utah Gets More Sun
Utah has more potential for solar energy than Florida! We also have great wind and geothermal resources. More than 30 utility-scale renewable energy facilities have already been built in Utah, mostly in rural areas. More large facilities will come online soon. With continued investments, Utah has the potential to be a renewable energy powerhouse.
Coming Soon to an Electric Outlet Near You!
With solar and wind capacity growing rapidly, electricity generated with renewable energy will power many Utah homes and businesses in the near future. Eighteen Utah communities are cooperating to bring their residents net-zero electricity by 2030 through the innovative Utah Communities Renewable Energy Program.
Utah Forge is Advancing a Hot Trend in Clean Energy
At the Utah FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) research site, skilled teams use a drilling rig from the oil industry to drill a seismic monitoring well 9500 feet below the surface. You can see the pad where an injection and a production well were previously drilled to the left. Photo © Eric Larson, Flash Point, SLC
Traditional geothermal energy is a great way to generate clean energy, but it's only available near hot springs, geysers, and volcanoes. Utah FORGE is testing advanced geothermal systems that can tap into the Earth's heat across the globe. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this University of Utah project has developed techniques and technologies at drilling sites in Beaver County that will allow will allow enhance geothermal systems to become a widely available, affordable, constant source of clean power.
Utah FORGE's work paved the way for Fervo Energy to break ground on the world's largest advanced geothermal project to date in Beaver County in September, 2023. The 400 megawatt project will begin delivering clean power to the grid in 2026 and reach full production in 2028.
Infographic: Casey Clifford, © NHMU
“I am passionate about our environment and the need to provide
future generations with access to a reliable, safe, and nonpolluting
source of energy. The heat beneath our feet is inexhaustible,
renewable, and environmentally friendly. The work we are doing will
allow us to harness the Earth’s energy anywhere it is needed.”
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