Energy

Is the Price Finally Right? The Economics of Renewable Energy

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

During the past several years, there has been a surge of interest among policymakers, scientists, investors and the public alike in renewable energy. The potential of harnessing power derived from virtually unlimited, renewable resources such as wind, the sun, water, the heat of the earth, and even organic matter, is appealing in comparison to using power derived from fossil fuels. The latter include resources such as oil, which must be imported, is scarce, can have … Continued

Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis of the Intermountain Power Project

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

The Intermountain Power Project (IPP) is located in the Great Basin region of western Utah and generates more than 13 million megawatt hours of energy each year from its two coal-fired units. In 2008, IPP contributed about $627 million in economic activity, 3,350 jobs, and $147 million in household earnings to Utah’s economy.

The 2010 Utah Priorities Survey of Party Delegates and Voters

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

As part of the 2010 Utah Priorities Project, Utah Foundation, KSL Television and Radio, Deseret News, and the Hinckley Institute sponsored a ground-breaking survey of Utah voters and delegates to the major party conventions. The survey shows distinct differences between party delegates and voters, with delegates usually taking more zealous positions than their party’s voters. The strongest distinctions are, as expected, between the two major parties. The survey also provides insight on Republican delegates’ opinions … Continued

The 2010 Utah Priorities Survey: The Top Issues and Concerns of Utah Voters for the 2010 Election

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

In this special election year, Utahns are less confident that the state is heading in the right direction than they were two years ago. Their concerns about some issues, like energy and transportation, have eased since 2008. However, other issues are now of greater concern, including the economy, government spending, the ethics of elected officials, and states’ rights versus the federal government.

Utah’s Energy Use and Resources: Powering Our Standard of Living

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

How much energy do Utahns consume? How has it changed over time? Where does Utah’s energy come from? What can Utahns can expect for energy prices and supplies in the future? The Utah Priorities Survey ranked energy, including gas prices, as the number one issue of concern for Utahns this year. This report provides data and graphs to illustrate Utah’s current energy situation and trends, and makes these findings:

The 2008 Utah Priorities Survey: The Top Issues and Concerns of Utah Voters for the 2008 Election

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

Throughout this election year, Utah Foundation will work to provide information, analysis, and public dialogue on the issues that matter most to you as you consider the future of Utah. The project began with a survey conducted by Dan Jones and Associates to understand which issues are of greatest concern to voters. The results of this survey are now available here by clicking the links below. The survey found that the top 10 issues for … Continued

Peak Load Growth Along the Wasatch Front: What’s Driving Electricity Demand in Utah?

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

Until the large power outage this summer across the eastern United States and Canada, the idea of electrical peak load growth as a public policy issue was almost unheard of. Since the power outage, policymakers at all levels of government have started examining the supply and demand of electricity.