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Booming Utah is adding vehicles faster than it is adding people

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Booming Utah is adding vehicles faster than it is adding people


This story is a part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing dedication to determine options to Utah’s largest challenges by way of the work of the Innovation Lab.

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Electrical and hybrid vehicles have blossomed up to now 5 years, however in uncooked numbers, gas- and diesel-powered vehicles and vans nonetheless dominate the rising variety of automobiles in Utah.

Based on Utah Division of Motor Automobile statistics, registrations for electrical automobiles are up 560% since 2017, leaping from 2,485 to 16,407. Hybrid automobiles — together with plug-in fashions — have soared from 33,869 in 2017 to 62,476 this yr, an 84% enhance.

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However, in that very same interval, Utah added 360,741 gas- and diesel-powered automobiles because the state’s booming inhabitants mushroomed by an estimated 426,000 folks.

Meaning Utah’s automotive registrations are rising sooner than its folks. In 2017, there was 0.80 automobiles for each particular person in Utah. Now there may be 0.82. And conventional gasoline and diesel nonetheless energy greater than 97% of them.

(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Globally, 2022 is the height yr for gross sales of vehicles powered by inside combustion engines, which incorporates gasoline and diesel ones, in response to Bloomberg’s 2022 Electrical Automobile Outlook. First launched within the nineteenth century, inside combustion has had a exceptional 130-year run, however 2023 will see fewer offered than this yr.

Utah received’t be turning the nook on inside combustion this yr. Some of the dramatic will increase since 2017 is in heavy diesel vans. Utah rocketed from 59,861 diesel-powered heavy vans to 76,116. That may be a 27% leap.

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Most of these vans have been added in Wasatch Entrance counties, the place vehicle-generated air air pollution is a persistent downside.

And large pickup vans rank among the many the fastest-growing classes. Within the 14,000-pound to twenty,000-pound gross car weight classes, Utah went from 18,205 in 2017 to 30,254 this yr, a 66% acquire. In uncooked numbers, the state added about the identical variety of these vans because it did electrical automobiles over the identical 5 years.

A number one idea is that the pandemic-fueled rush in out of doors recreation has pushed demand for diesel and gasoline vans that may haul fifth-wheel trailers, boats and trailers for all-terrain automobiles.

Craig Bickmore, govt director of the Utah Car Sellers Affiliation, says the car combine is pushed by demand. “Individuals want to take a look at what the shopper desires to drive. The factories are going to supply what the shopper desires.”

He notes that newer pickups, together with the massive diesels, are a lot cleaner. “Diesel is a really environment friendly horse.”

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Bickmore additionally says provide points are making it tougher for patrons to replace, no matter their alternative. “There’s a whole lot of pent-up demand for lots of stuff.”

Ashley Miller, govt director of Breathe Utah, a clear air advocacy group, agrees that even changing older fossil-fuel burners with newer ones is making a major distinction to air high quality, though she acknowledges that doesn’t do a lot to scale back the state’s carbon footprint since they’re nonetheless powered by fossil fuels.

And Utah’s fleet is certainly getting newer. Amongst 2022 registrations, 870,000 vehicles have been 2017 or newer, when cleaner Tier 3 requirements for brand new vehicles started. That’s greater than 1 / 4 of all automobiles within the state.

Miller factors out that Utah isn’t one of many 12 “ZEV” states. Led by California, ZEV states have established quotas requiring a sure share of recent car gross sales be zero emission. Because of this, producers ship extra electrical vehicles to these states.

“Most EVs go to states taking part within the ZEV program,” she says, “so no matter is left from the producers goes to different states the place there may be demand.”

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Thomas Kessinger, helpful electrification program supervisor for Utah Clear Vitality, one other advocacy group, sees a combined bag on EV rollout in Utah.

“The excellent news is that Utah is main in electrical car infrastructure funding. The Electrical Automobile Infrastructure Program devoted $50 million particularly for expanded EV charging throughout Utah, and, as a state, we’re making ready for the inflow of federal Infrastructure funds,” Kessinger says. “However the dangerous information is that we don’t have sufficient EVs in Utah to satisfy the demand as a result of Utah by no means handed a ZEV rule. Whereas we proceed to make charging accessible and reasonably priced for all, we nonetheless must work on growing EV availability within the state.”

Tim Fitzpatrick is The Salt Lake Tribune’s renewable power reporter, a place funded by a grant from Rocky Mountain Energy. The Tribune retains all management over editorial choices impartial of Rocky Mountain Energy.



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Utah

What went wrong in Utah HC's loss to Stars?

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What went wrong in Utah HC's loss to Stars?


The Utah Hockey Club’s last two regulation losses have now come at the hands of the Dallas Stars following Monday night’s 3-2 loss at home.

An insufficient effort in the second period was Utah HC’s demise. Outside of that, it was as evenly matched as any game.

“I think that second period’s a learning lesson, honestly,” said Utah center Barrett Hayton. “I thought we did a great job in the first period. We were urgent, we were intense, we were on the ball, playing the right way. You just can’t afford those lapses against good teams, and that’s what our second period was.”

A late push from Utah yielded some close calls, but sports fans know “close” doesn’t cut it.

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How this works

This is a three-part article geared toward three different audiences.

  • First, we’ll have “Utah hockey for dummies” for all you new hockey fans. Welcome, by the way — we’re glad you’ve taken an interest in the greatest sport in the world.
  • Next, we’ll have a section titled “Utah hockey for casual fans,” aimed at those who have a basic understanding of the sport.
  • Finally, we’ll have “Utah hockey for nerds.” That will be for those of you who, like me, think about nothing but hockey all day, every day.

Feedback is welcome, so let me know what you think in the comments of this article or the comments section on “X.”

Utah Hockey for dummies

Hayton seems to have found his scoring touch once again.

Until this week, the 24-year-old who centers Utah’s top line hadn’t scored since Oct. 30. Now, he has a pair of goals in as many games. It’s his second time scoring in bunches this year, as he scored in each of the team’s first three games and again in its fifth game.

He told the media after the game Monday that there’s not much rhyme or reason to his streaks.

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“I think you’ll score and produce when you’re playing well and playing the right way,” he said. “It all comes full circle like that, so I don’t know. It’s just coincidence.”

Regardless of whether the puck goes in the net or not, Hayton has played an immaculate defensive game this year, which has opened his linemates up for offensive success.

Clayton Keller, who plays on Hayton’s left wing, has scored more than a point per game this year. Nick Schmaltz, his other winger, is just below a point per game.

Interesting note: There’s a discrepancy as to how many points Hayton now has in his career. The team is celebrating his goal as his 100th point, but NHL.com says it’s only his 99th, with the same number of games played, goals and assists.

HockeyDB and most of the other sites agree that it’s number 100. I’m not good enough at math to figure out who’s right. Someone add it up and let me know in the comments.

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Utah Hockey for casual fans

Although Utah HC managed just 26 shots Monday, Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith was the story of the game. He plays at the top of his crease, which is especially effective when facing shots from medium and close distances. It earned him the honor of first star of the game.

Time and time again, Utah would create plenty of open space, make a great play and put a solid shot on net, only to have it go straight to the crest of DeSmith’s jersey.

“There weren’t many holes on him,” said Utah center Nick Bjugstad. “There were some good chances on our end, but I still feel like traffic and making it a little harder on him would have been beneficial for us.”

Utah Hockey for nerds

The fatigue of a back-to-back affects teams more than we probably think it does. In this, the second game in as many nights for Utah HC, they got much-needed energy from the third line: Bjugstad, Lawson Crouse and Matias Maccelli.

All night long, that line created chances out of thin air. They seemed to have the chemistry together that earned them all the best or second-best point totals of their careers last year.

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One example came midway through the first period Monday. Bjugstad was streaking down the left wing but was forced to the outside by the Stars’ defender.

Rather than trying to beat him with speed, Bjugstad threw on the brakes and sent a spinning backhand pass straight to the stick of Crouse.

DeSmith matched him with a perfectly positioned save, but the play gave Utah a jolt of energy.

Then on the first shift of the second period, they had a similar high-energy rush. It was not by coincidence that Utah head coach Andre Tourigny selected his highest-paced line to set the tone for the second.

These are the kinds of things that third lines are typically responsible for, in addition to chipping in a goal once every two or three games. They’re really struggling to do that second part, but they showed on Monday that they can do the first thing.

“When you’re not scoring as a line, you try to figure out what to do,” Bjugstad said. “For us, it’s just simplifying.”

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What’s next?

There will be three silent nights for Utah HC — and the rest of the NHL — before getting back into action on Friday as they host the Colorado Avalanche.

It’s the third and final match this season between the two teams. They’re both 1-1-0 against each other so the season series is on the line.

It’s a big game in the sense that both teams are competing for one of the same five playoff spots, so every point matters. It’s a good chance for one team to gain the edge over the other.

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon is as hot as ever right now, with 16 points in his last seven games. With that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that he has a five-point lead in the NHL points race.

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. It will be broadcast nationally, meaning it won’t be available on the normal channels. Instead, it’s on ESPN2.

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Utah girls' goalball players win national tournament

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Utah girls' goalball players win national tournament


SALT LAKE CITY — For the second year in a row, the Utah High School Girls’ Goalball team has won the national championship. The competition took place this year at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida. In the final round, the Utah team beat the West Virginia team by 9 to 1.

Utah player Reese Branch was named the tournament’s MVP. Because she was one of the top six girl goalball players, she made it to the All-American Goalball Team, as did her teammate Kelsey Kartchner.

Truly a Utah team

Utah’s girls’ goalball team members come from all over the state. They include Branch from Tremonton, Kartchner from Smithfield, Julie Jenson from Pleasant Grove, and Kalinka Brown from Clearfield.

And while that makes them a great representative of the state, the distance can interfere with their training as a team.

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“We can’t get together like every day, like a lot of high school teams. So we practice usually once a week in Midvale.”

Then, like a lot of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the athletes train on their own, at home.

“It’s a lot of like finding your own time to work out, and then obviously, our amazing coaches help us so much,” Branch said.

The Utah Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired manages the team.  Rachel Jepson and Jalayne Engberg coach the team. Jepson is a former Utah goalball player. Engberg is a teacher and mobility instructor in the Alpine School District.

What is goalball?

According to the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind, Goalball was a rehabilitation tool that originated after World War II in Germany. It’s played on an indoor court with a ball that has bells in it.

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“There are three people on each side of the court,” Branch told KSL NewsRadio.

“You’re blindfolded, and the goal is to throw the ball into the opposing team’s goal. You block it with your body and then stand up and throw.”

Utah boys’ goalball

The Utah High School Boy’s Team got to the tournament’s quarterfinals before they were eliminated. Their team includes Kelton Health, Greer Merrill, Caleb Rice, and Luke Sorenson. 

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We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.





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Utah loses a top recruit, as a four-star edge rusher flips to the Cougars

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Utah loses a top recruit, as a four-star edge rusher flips to the Cougars


One of the gems of Utah’s incoming recruiting class is now heading south.

Four-star edge rusher Hunter Clegg flipped his commitment from Utah to BYU after returning home from his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission this week.

The American Fork product was a top-three player in the state coming out of high school. He was originally part of the 2023 recruiting class — with highly touted players like four-stars Jackson Bowers and Walker Lyons.

BYU made a strong push to sign Clegg a few years ago. In the summer of 2022, head coach Kalani Sitake hosted Clegg as part of BYU’s most high-profile recruiting weekend of the cycle. BYU had Clegg, Bowers, Lyons and offensive lineman Ethan Thomason on campus at the same time. With the collection of four-stars in Provo, the coaching staff pitched that group as cornerstone pieces of BYU’s early Big 12 era. Sitake had one-on-one meetings with all of them. The weekend included photoshoots in the mountains, a trip to Deer Lake and Top Golf.

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“It definitely felt like this was an important weekend for the program,” Thomason told The Salt Lake Tribune at the time. “They didn’t go over the top to where it is unrealistic. But you could feel it was really important.”

After that weekend, Thomason and Bowers both committed to BYU. But Clegg and Lyons went elsewhere.

Lyons landed at USC — where he played 10 games for Lincoln Riley last season. Utah also heavily recruited Lyons and the program was surprised he did not come to Salt Lake.

Clegg went on a mission, but oscillated between commitments. He originally pledged to go to Stanford, but backed off after a coaching change. He then announced he’d go to Utah.

Now, he has signed with the Cougars.

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Clegg’s addition is important for two reasons. For one, edge rusher is a position of need for the Cougars.

Defensive coordinator Jay Hill has been looking for a pass rusher who can generate sacks. In the last two years, most of BYU’s pass rush has come from the linebacker position with Harrison Taggart and Isaiah Glasker. Getting to the quarterback with a four-man rush is a critical part of Hill’s scheme, he said.

But perhaps more importantly, Clegg flipping from Utah continues a trend of BYU going after in-state recruits already pledged to the Utes.

In the last cycle, Hill put pressure on the state’s No. 3 player, Faletau Satuala, to flip from Salt Lake to Provo. He was able to sign Satuala at the last second.

Part of Hill’s pitch, Satuala and other recruits indicated, was stability. Kyle Whittingham’s potential retirement played a factor, recruits said, with BYU making in-roads with Utah’s recruits.

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“I think [stability] is important,” 2025 recruit Taani Makasini said. Makasini was recruited by both BYU and Utah, but signed with the Cougars in this class.

“I don’t want to go somewhere and the person that recruited me isn’t there anymore. I’m going there to learn from him. I’m not going there to learn from whoever they’re gonna hire next,” Makasini said.



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