Energy Resources

Public and private utilities draw upon renewable and nonrenewable resources to provide electric and fuel (natural gas, propane, oil, gasoline) energy supplies. The governor’s 10-year Strategic Energy Plan describes Utah’s energy goals and recommendations [1].

The Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining provides maps and data including:

• The Utah Coal Program website provides a public records coal map and an interactive story map.
• The Oil and Gas Program website has interactive maps and data of Utah oil production.
• Utah’s oil production nearly tripled between 2004 and 2014. In 2013 about one fourth of the state’s total crude oil production came from tribal lands [2].

Energy resources specific to Carbon and Emery counties from Energy, Mineral, and Ground-Water Resources of Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah (2003) :[3]

• Natural gas, including that from coalbed methane, has the highest potential for future discoveries in the two counties.
• Sufficient coal resources exist for 40-50 years of production under favorable market conditions.
• Two groups of tar sands are present but only one (Sunnyside-Jacks Canyon) appears to have significant potential for development.
• Reserves of uranium and vanadium exist in the San Rafael Swell and potential exist for future discoveries, although market conditions may not support development.
• No geothermal potential exists.

The following are examples of goals and policies that might be included in a county’s resource management plan to address energy resource issues. Most of these examples come from existing county, state, and federal plans; other examples can be found in the referenced plans and other resources listed below.

• Encourage and promote energy conservation and the use of renewable, clean, and alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, etc [2].
• Promote the efficient use of natural resources and the conservation of energy [2].
• Work toward reducing regulation that may hinder energy development [4].
• Foster cooperation between water user groups, energy development companies, land use agencies, and citizens to both protect water rights and ensure opportunities for needed energy development [4].
• Develop realistic financial opportunities and incentives for developers and landowners for renewable and alternative energy development [4].
• Promote education and coordination with citizens by developers to encourage safe, proper, and efficient energy development [4].
• Support and participate in planning for locally produced sustainable energy and its local consumption and transport [5].
• Encourage businesses to develop solid and fluid mineral resources while using the best technology and mitigation techniques to protect natural amenities and natural resources [5].
• Minimize impacts to ecology and scenery from fluid and solid mineral development while allowing such development to continue to benefit the economy [5].
• Support balanced and responsible natural-resource development that benefits the public and generates revenues for public service providers to help pay for public infrastructure improvements needed to achieve economic diversity [5].

• Current information and reports are available from the Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development. A key resource addressing economic issues is the May 2015 report, Energy and Energy-Related Mining in Utah.
• Utah energy quick facts are available from the US Energy Information Administration.
• In planning, consider all possible forms of renewable energy that can be developed in Utah, including solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. These projects create revenue and jobs. In the third quarter of 2015, Utah created more clean energy jobs than any other state, nearly 3,000. The government offers many incentives to those who develop renewable energy sources [6].
• In 2013 energy employment generated $2.853 billion in wages. The energy sector generated state and local taxes, fees, and royalties of $656 million [7].

The many datasets in the map and data download sections can be used to identify areas of the county with existing or potential energy production by type of energy.

• Energy development projects on public lands may affect sensitive wildlife and other resources.
• Decisions to permit energy development projects on federal lands must be consistent with applicable resource management plans and likely require environmental impact evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Information and data regarding Utah energy and mineral resources is available from the Utah Geological Survey, including energy and mineral statistics, links to interactive maps, and statewide maps in Acrobat (.pdf) format.
Spatial data sources are listed in the table below; additional data sources are listed under the mining and mineral resource topics.