Spanish Fork Canyon Windmills | Aaron Fortin
As we’ve tracked Utah and national news through 2025, we have compiled some of the key energy issues and topics that have appeared in media outlets this year.
Operation Gigawatt
Governor Spencer Cox outlined a plan to double the state’s power production within ten years as a path forward for Utah’s energy future. The plan includes investing in “all of the above” forms of energy that are “reliable, affordable, secure and clean.” Increasing transmission capacity, mining for critical minerals, investing in research, and developing workforce are also included in the energy plan. Geothermal and nuclear energy are specifically highlighted as emerging areas of focus.
Utah's Nuclear Industry
Utah officials have begun accelerating development for nuclear power. In April, Governor Cox signed a memo of understanding (MOU) with the governors of Idaho and Wyoming to collaborate on regional nuclear development. Additional MOUs have included an agreement with Idaho National Laboratory on research and workforce development, and agreements with TerraPower, NuCube, Valar and Holtec to pursue advanced reactor siting. Other agreements around fuel development and bills to support a nuclear energy ecosystem have also enhanced Utah’s ability to become a national nuclear hub.
Geothermal Energy Development
In October 2024, the Biden Administration signed an agreement to extend permits and funding for the FORGE geothermal energy project in Beaver County through 2028. In April, the BLM announced it was leasing 50,000 acres of public land in Beaver, Iron, and Sevier Counties for new geothermal projects. Congresswoman Celeste Maloy introduced legislation to speed up permitting for land leases to increase Utah’s geothermal energy development.
Solar and Wind Energy Rollbacks of Tax Subsidies
Federal policies on solar and wind energy changed dramatically through both legislative and executive action under the new administration. Congress passed legislation, effectively dismantling Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives on EVs, wind, and solar technologies and adding restrictions on foreign-supplied components. Senator John Curtis helped soften the language to phase out some programs over time rather than remove them immediately.
Uinta Basin Railway Updates
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Uinta Basin Railway can proceed and that NEPA environmental review rules are more limited than opponents of the railway advocated. According to the ruling, NEPA rules are meant to inform but not stop agencies from making decisions on projects. The Uinta Basin Railway will connect northeastern Utah to national railways, creating opportunities to substantially increase oil production in Utah through partnerships with out-of-state refineries.