[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,98,110],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6231948,"mediaKeyId","3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690","parentId",3427040,"title","SITLA says trust lands revenue supports schools; geothermal, uranium and coal leases expanding","audioSeconds",390,"startMs",4597000,"endMs",4987000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690&start=4597&end=4987","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690/thumbnail_4597000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6231948/Utah/SITLA-says-trust-lands-revenue-supports-schools-geothermal-uranium-and-coal-leases-expanding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231948-abb4e1ef98eac3ab26ac0064488ea449/orig.mp4?Expires=1770162333&Signature=VZteFPdrZf3u0BB2Eq-ym~z7Y7pbMq9sNCsFuouu9h3fSNmA2TV5xgh7rA2TP0jwQt1k992EAD49F1qGtz92GfPjSCeSSKRN~FB~-5D1R5TM3jgjGNPZttMVDkQxhV981h3iISt0qrcGvxJgztjLrgFI6GW7Ikp1jpxrceKYJAQi28TmbYf0IA7Wf5-2QGvHG7wI4bWsp2zusigw00H-aY4k2rA7YRDv0x2CEhjHKOaNJT~D1Meg9lc0i3WZYY6D9gIip2Qn3pONm~1V3AyX6Fqe1INilbvrWO~VbBlIXoMQX0JpxxAMh3MgOjsQwZYJrMljoZM-z8Dzs6qCBAZIVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah Legislature","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Michelle McConkie, director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), told the committee that trust lands exist to generate revenue for public schools and other beneficiaries, and that energy and mineral leases remain a major revenue source.

McConkie said SITLA managed about 3.3 million acres of surface estate and about 4.5 million acres of mineral estate under the trust mandate and that the agency generated \"just under 130,000,000 in revenue\" last year, with roughly $110,000,000 going to public schools. \"Our ultimate charge,\" she said, \"is to make money for school children,\" and SITLA's leaders described their work as balancing near‑term revenue and long‑term stewardship.

SITLA described recent activity in multiple commodity areas: oil and gas (UN Basin and Paradox Basin), coal (including Fossil Rock, which SITLA said is on trust lands), geothermal (including the FORGE project and private geothermal demonstrations such as the Fervo project), and minerals such as uranium, lithium and potash. McConkie said the agency completed a land exchange under the John D. Dingell framework (federal land exchange) and that those parcels are now available for development under state control.

Committee members asked about recycling and disposal responsibilities for utility‑scale solar panels; McConkie said SITLA requires reclamation plans and bonding from lessees and typically posts bonds with SITLA for cleanup while counties manage zoning and land‑use approvals.

McConkie said SITLA is actively engaging with industry on geothermal and other prospects and highlighted the agency's role as an owner that can move faster than some federal processes because it acts more like fee land in many transactions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration outlined leasing activity, energy and mineral revenue collections for public schools, and growing interest in geothermal, critical minerals and uranium projects on trust lands.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231953,"Utah oil and gas production rises; division pushes permit reform and updated bonding rules",683,1487000,2170000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690&start=1487&end=2170","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690/thumbnail_1487000.jpg","/articles/6231953/Utah/Utah-oil-and-gas-production-rises-division-pushes-permit-reform-and-updated-bonding-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231953-1494abdbe1a6be0c86ccc52f746a27a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770162333&Signature=feiimQMpVUzr5h7Fbc5PvHKPH01~u3Hh4V6HMMm4b1tvaSnfapmGu4A5sVWtbPjRaU27h4avpDGeRjs-AKGTl22qrooVnLabqohpXri4BMPp09XbmfnRj2SC~wwI~tsoN2PAHvE5YO0bpEnPrKvR4aeKEJwDtOZ8ufSQKmmoqr5sojaXqqIh7Q0~CbbDth2~jWJV8xGrQ6rtskxeJEy8bbARqOIUZ8xmFtlGbVfBkFBotF12TGRMohABaaG3hvUPMVr~sRpxywEl0IOgpqc74K-qp-mYOvbo3uipIGhtC-vMnxWlWb4w6ea~F1HbTsWMPTXbzWQjk-pwNlf1bDYvnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mick Thomas, director of the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, told the committee that Utah produced ‘‘just over 65,000,000 barrels in calendar year '24,'' and that natural gas production also increased year‑over‑year. Thomas said the state's oil and gas industry has grown rapidly and the division is pursuing permit reform, workflow modernization and ways to assist operators through federal and state processes.

Thomas described fiscal savings the division achieved by shifting board notices and dockets to electronic delivery and by removing the requirement for an on‑site court reporter in board hearings. He also told the committee the division is working with stakeholders to modernize bonding for oil, gas and mining — the last update to bonding structure was in 2002 — and expects to present rulemaking drafts for the board to consider.

On mining, Thomas said the state has approved an expansion of the Fossil Rock coal mine in Emery County and is evaluating other coal mine applications, while also supporting fast‑track approvals for projects the administration considers critical. He described implementation of standardized reclamation cost estimators and use of best practices for bond estimates.

On oil and gas specific concerns, Representative Shelley asked about pending federal changes to bonding levels; Thomas said the state is actively monitoring federal actions and that the industry has been shifting production to fee and state lands in part to reduce federal permitting exposure. \"Holistically ... making sure that the oil and gas industry in the state, especially Utah ... making sure that the regulations are modernized and favorable to the people in the industry is a primary goal,\" Thomas said.

Thomas emphasized the economic role of fossil fuels in the state, estimating the industry's total economic impact in 2024 at about $17 billion and noting coal and natural gas remain important sources of dispatchable baseload power while the state pursues longer‑term options like nuclear and geothermal.","The Division of Oil, Gas and Mining reported rising oil and gas output, outlined permit‑processing reforms and said it will propose updates to long‑unchanged bonding requirements to protect taxpayers and landowners.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":78,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231958,"Air regulators: nonattainment rules and offsets constrain siting of large on‑site generation; 15 companies have approached Utah",3398000,4081000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690&start=3398&end=4081","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690/thumbnail_3398000.jpg","/articles/6231958/Utah/Air-regulators-nonattainment-rules-and-offsets-constrain-siting-of-large-onsite-generation-15-companies-have-approached-Utah","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231958-2bde8c4580038cf8d49e9133aaf1936e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770162333&Signature=Ox3-QIZzsPM~N9wcaQih7KY-HC2SMb0xVn2uDdNAguj0FRHW~8kWoyYCBUOdD5IUryesBmnoT~qPRs0VfXT13cldpXyRvQKqy3umA0Rw~qOLpsNYmrjle7jkLKJZacpBwmX4IlGhuehhR1gIX9O1E4aqyV0o~G94JSZlh7wlKnkwViOfVi~9IVr5staWZtnsrgfVxVZNSGRZLNdCw60G6UKjq27nBoecWUHwEx7Os9fkc4gMeUn7X0URbP1HFYMJvdL7zo0LY5IpbL-H9M9qghXEUXNyoIKVMEkqEbGuZD6uMOUymCsqSTOQw5bCt3ISQB69e-3A6lCvjsWrjpgHoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bryce Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality, told the committee that over the past six months the division has been approached by 15 companies considering on‑site generation or new electrical generation projects in Utah. \"In the past 6 months, we've had 15 companies approach us with either on‑site generation or, new electrical generation development,\" Bird said.

Bird explained that where projects can be sited in the state, and how quickly they can be permitted, depends on air quality classifications and federal limits. Areas near the Wasatch Front and the Uinta Basin are designated nonattainment for pollutants such as PM2.5 and ozone; those designations lower permitting thresholds for major sources and require emissions offsets, additional monitoring and more detailed modeling before permits can be issued. Bird said that the state has created online mapping tools to help applicants understand where emissions sources and nonattainment areas are located and encouraged pre‑application engagement so staff and applicants can prepare complete applications.

On timing, Bird said the division is averaging roughly 120–130 days to issue a permit after a complete application is filed, but projects subject to major source review or additional monitoring can face much longer timelines. He emphasized that the division requires applicants to demonstrate the use of best available control technology and to quantify emissions, and that in nonattainment areas applicants must obtain emission offsets — either by reducing other emissions or by purchasing emissions credits.

Committee members asked whether the pre‑application inquiries were for natural gas, diesel or nuclear. Bird said most inquiries were for on‑site fossil generation — natural gas or diesel used to meet large data‑center loads — and that the difficulty of meeting nonattainment limits was prompting some companies to consider locations off the Wasatch Front. \"A lot of them have have started looking at areas off the Wasatch Front,\" Bird said, citing latency constraints for data centers and the need to be within about 100 miles of trunk fiber while also avoiding air‑quality constraints.

Bird and other regulators said they are focused on streamlining permitting timelines where possible and on early engagement with potential applicants, but they cautioned that statutory federal clean‑air requirements constrain how permits can be issued.","Utah Division of Air Quality told the interim committee 15 companies have sought pre‑application discussions about on‑site generation or new power projects; regulators warned that nonattainment rules, offsets and permitting tests shape where and how projects can be built.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231961,"Utah energy office highlights Operation Gigawatt goals, signs nuclear MOUs and advances geothermal research",751,501000,1252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690&start=501&end=1252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690/thumbnail_501000.jpg","/articles/6231961/Utah/Utah-energy-office-highlights-Operation-Gigawatt-goals-signs-nuclear-MOUs-and-advances-geothermal-research","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231961-445548280a7a0ddbbed3e8d3465da89a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770162333&Signature=euztFQ~YWegWrMGbVr00V4v2NZJgdTFgr6Svvzavh1~zUP8-bgQxkbdqQ-4Va1QI7Ky0P7galhgSI3GRqkNiCmuoNpxoq8hMANJF~B34ZzC3GXH~qJccs10BAkPw8v9DV~vmKzfPMCcmKhDZrgrLhswDP4H80TBXrGtPy5wSdH2DLSoC4OBADTf5mf7YyqF65l56LSochZAiZf8AACj1t6W63e8TksJnFGaizmUZgoUMbaOeb~b8JGwWZPSa4qOckE9TTz98Am2xDFoGI6H51tkhWbWeLmREHKy4Vg6M3X-Y~9~vdqa5izVTK564IrpoNDbpkSvJPhVKoAIpyXRvnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emmy Lisovsky, director of the Office of Energy Development, told the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Interim Committee that the office is advancing Operation Gigawatt, the governor's stated goal to double the state's energy generation capacity within 10 years. Lisovsky said the office works on workforce development, forecasting tools, regulatory reform and incentives intended to attract energy projects to Utah.

Lisovsky summarized recent legislative actions that assigned new duties to the office and created research bodies. She told the committee HB 249 created the Utah Energy Research Board and an Advanced Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, and that the legislature also authorized an energy council that allows localities to nominate electrical energy development zones. Lisovsky said the office has signed a memorandum of understanding with Idaho National Laboratory to bring federal research expertise to Utah and another MOU with Energy Solutions and others to explore options for nuclear materials management and potential future reactor siting.

Lisovsky discussed geothermal as a major potential resource, noting the state's conventional and advanced geothermal activity and citing projects such as the University of Utah's FORGE project and private companies developing power purchase agreements. \"Geothermal is reliable base load, clean power,\" she said, and noted an estimate cited to the committee of \"up to 49 gigawatts of utility scale power potentially in the state,\" while also cautioning that how much of that is developable \"remains to be seen.\"

On nuclear, Lisovsky said the state is developing a regulatory and research framework and emphasized education and outreach. She said Utah signed regional MOUs with neighboring governors to explore an interstate compact and to collaborate on nuclear pathways and permitting frameworks; these efforts are intended to \"leverage expertise to thoughtfully and responsibly develop nuclear in our state.\"

The committee also heard from Doug Hansen, director of the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control, who described Utah's status as an \"agreement state\" with delegated authority from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to license and regulate certain radiological activities. Hansen explained that not all NRC authority can be delegated (reactor licensing and high‑level waste remain federal), and he said Utah administers radioactive materials licensing, radioactive waste disposal facility oversight and the uranium recovery program.

Hansen addressed public questions about Energy Solutions and the potential to recover energy from stored waste, saying that much of the commercial low‑level waste currently accepted in Utah is Class A waste and \"there's not much energy in that waste.\" He noted other federally held material, such as depleted uranium, is being discussed for potential use in advanced reactor fuel but said those stockpiles are owned and stored by the U.S. Department of Energy. \"There is an opportunity to recover energy from some of the waste, just not the waste that we already have here,\" Hansen said.

Committee members asked about permitting timelines, federal regulatory bottlenecks, and the office's work on transmission and workforce development. Lisovsky said the office is engaged at the federal and regional level on regulatory processes and on tools to forecast energy supply and demand to inform state policy.","The Office of Energy Development briefed the committee on Operation Gigawatt, legislative changes from 2025 and signed memoranda of understanding to pursue nuclear research and geothermal development while coordinating workforce and permitting priorities.",{"_32":111,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":112,"_40":113,"_42":114,"_44":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231966,"Utah PSC trims Rocky Mountain Power request, approves $87.2 million revenue increase and raises low‑income credit",4985,3593000,8578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690&start=3593&end=8578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427040-43ca70e0d4ba530a112e31584c0f0690/thumbnail_3593000.jpg","/articles/6231966/Utah/Utah-PSC-trims-Rocky-Mountain-Power-request-approves-872-million-revenue-increase-and-raises-lowincome-credit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231966-0dcae7d02383149c1d233610a1e62ecf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770162333&Signature=Q2dSDEzENr1qib5cfSPzLM1gHiQw-kfhNczZ7xCfl3XAX-KWlSRk3I0KhSCV0HCBFO3hq9hwfDMXYsDrml61yb6CBNulp3nRqo8wiOl0FXxW0n5lNdRmzepEZ6LpyjZpO9tcH6VCSAOWVWEDIA0AA8BrkGGUgMbdmkVoY9jZMpAV3OphjCwykALuKTe26809apoQ21-GRQ4hgiKeYfDhk6lm5tK7VmCj8HwlbF9vTBeATcDURdMBJ1REecW7VGUgc-O9~CCfEwLAtc70grUsokvsuk69jr-2PNjnMPL2d09SbJyh2JZLqwfLHD26MjXbtKM54j-o2k6VVSiJosLAVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Utah Public Service Commission on April 25 issued an order reducing Rocky Mountain Power’s requested rate increase and approving a $87.2 million change in the company’s revenue requirement. Chair Jerry Phan said the final decision reduced the company’s amended request and limited costs passed to Utah customers.

The order matters because it lowers the prospect of a large jump in household electricity bills while allowing the utility to recover a portion of its proposed investments. The commission said it balanced the company’s need for investment with protections for Utah ratepayers, and it increased the low‑income lifeline credit to provide immediate relief for people on fixed incomes.

In filings and at hearings, Rocky Mountain Power had asked for a large increase that was amended several times; by the time the case reached the commission the company’s amended request had been reduced but still sought substantially more than the commission allowed. Chair Jerry Phan summarized the commission’s decision in the published order, saying the commission approved a revenue increase “of 87,200,000,” and that the order results in a modest residential bill change. Phan read the commission’s calculation that the approved change equates to “a bill increase of $4.31 a month or 4.7%” for an average residential customer using about 700 kilowatt‑hours a month; multifamily customers saw a smaller average dollar and percentage change.

The commission described multiple areas where it reduced the company’s requested recovery. Commissioners declined full recovery of costs tied to wildfire exposures and related insurance that the record showed reflected risks concentrated outside Utah. The commission used Rocky Mountain Power’s actual capital structure for the test year rather than the company’s proposed hypothetical 50/50 equity‑debt mix, in part because the record tied the company’s reduced equity position to payouts and liabilities outside Utah. The order also limited recovery of some out‑of‑state policy costs and certain contract claims and adjusted forecasts for net power costs.

The commission also noted a customer‑facing change: it raised the low‑income lifeline credit from $13.95 to $18 per month to help households on fixed incomes absorb rising bills. Commissioners said the increase can be funded from surplus in the existing lifeline program without a material effect on other customers.

The order is a final written decision of the commission, but commission staff noted regulatory procedures allow parties to seek rehearing under commission rules. The commission said it will continue to scrutinize proposed investments, and it will consider whether proposed wildfire mitigation and capital programs provide cost‑effective reductions in risk versus other mitigation approaches.

The commission said it will further review issues tied to transmission and resource planning in upcoming dockets, including work on advanced transmission technologies and the company’s next integrated resource plan.","The Utah Public Service Commission issued a written order cutting Rocky Mountain Power’s amended rate request and approved a substantially smaller revenue increase while raising the low‑income lifeline credit for customers on fixed incomes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SITLA says trust lands revenue supports schools; geothermal, uranium and coal leases expanding

Utah oil and gas production rises; division pushes permit reform and updated bonding rules

Air regulators: nonattainment rules and offsets constrain siting of large on‑site generation; 15 companies have approached Utah

Utah energy office highlights Operation Gigawatt goals, signs nuclear MOUs and advances geothermal research

Utah PSC trims Rocky Mountain Power request, approves $87.2 million revenue increase and raises low‑income credit