Study: Energy Investment Would Create Utah Jobs
February 20, 2009
The Associated Press - A report says investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy
could bring Utah thousands of jobs and millions of dollars.Dianne Nielson, energy adviser to Gov. Jon Huntsman,
commissioned the study to determine the effects of a plan to boost energy efficiency
by 20 percent by 2015 and make renewable energy 20 percent of electricity
sales by 2020.
The state plans to use $34 million in federal stimulus money on
clean-energy projects.
Utah Clean Energy, which wrote the report, estimated that energy savings and renewable energy could meet all of the state's projected
growth in energy demand through 2020.
If clean energy made up 20 percent of Utah's power, coal would
still contribute 53 percent, power purchases would provide 12 percent,
hydroelectricity would give 8 percent and natural gas would be 7
percent.
The study also said the energy investment could create 7,000
new jobs and save consumers $940 million by 2020. The investment also could
create $310 million in net earnings and add $300 million to the state's gross
domestic product.
"We're ready for business," Nielson said Thursday.
There are obstacles, however, including a lack of incentives to
lure investment.
Nielson said renewable projects would be small and would
develop over time. She said the state has recently mapped renewable-energy zones
that would make it clear where the investments would go.
The full report will be available in two or three weeks.
The Associated Press - A report says investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy
could bring Utah thousands of jobs and millions of dollars.Dianne Nielson, energy adviser to Gov. Jon Huntsman,
commissioned the study to determine the effects of a plan to boost energy efficiency
by 20 percent by 2015 and make renewable energy 20 percent of electricity
sales by 2020.
The state plans to use $34 million in federal stimulus money on
clean-energy projects.
Utah Clean Energy, which wrote the report, estimated that energy savings and renewable energy could meet all of the state's projected
growth in energy demand through 2020.
If clean energy made up 20 percent of Utah's power, coal would
still contribute 53 percent, power purchases would provide 12 percent,
hydroelectricity would give 8 percent and natural gas would be 7
percent.
The study also said the energy investment could create 7,000
new jobs and save consumers $940 million by 2020. The investment also could
create $310 million in net earnings and add $300 million to the state's gross
domestic product.
"We're ready for business," Nielson said Thursday.
There are obstacles, however, including a lack of incentives to
lure investment.
Nielson said renewable projects would be small and would
develop over time. She said the state has recently mapped renewable-energy zones
that would make it clear where the investments would go.
The full report will be available in two or three weeks.