Energy

Gov. Spencer Cox began his second term determined to push Utah to build houses, infrastructure and strong communities.

Unlike previous years, lawmakers seem to be steering clear of pushing through some of the most controversial bills within the first two weeks.

The Utah Legislature convenes on Jan. 21 with a lot on its plate including crime and immigration, election reforms, and the state's ongoing push for housing and energy.

“We have done the hard things, never shying away from the heavy lifts,” Gov. Spencer Cox told the crowd. “Time and again, Utah has punched above its weight over these last four years.”

Nationwide, nearly 17,000 homes on tribal lands still need electricity hook-ups. A majority are spread across the Navajo Nation, where climate change is making it harder for families to keep cool. A mutual aid program, however, has helped to change lives.

The future power needs of artificial intelligence are unlike any seen before. This has led to energy companies and state lawmakers scrambling for answers.

Tackling climate change isn’t a top priority for Republicans, but Benji Backer says that can change.

In August, legislative leaders asked Rocky Mountain Power to explore what it would take to split from its parent company, Oregon-based PacifiCorp. They got an answer during an interim committee session on Nov. 20.

While Utah House Republican leadership remains unchanged, GOP lawmakers opted to shuffle the deck in the Senate.

The first of Utah's general election debates featured Gov. Spencer Cox, Rep. Brian King, his Democratic challenger, and Libertarian Robert Latham.

A lower court judge has already thrown out the fossil fuels case. But the plaintiffs want the Utah Supreme Court to reinstate it.

The deal announced by Houston-based Fervo Energy is by far the largest deal for a new generation of geothermal power, which engineers have been advancing for years so that traditional power plants that cause climate change can be closed down without a loss of needed, 24/7 electricity.