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Politicians, experts discuss future of renewable energy in Utah

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Politicians, experts discuss future of renewable energy in Utah


Ashtyn Asay, Every day Herald

Politicians and specialists talk about Utah’s renewable power choices at Utah Valley College on Thursday, Might 19, 2022.

Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert moderated a dialogue Thursday between politicians and trade specialists specializing in clear power, and the way market forces proceed to drive change in Utah’s power panorama.

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The panel, held at Utah Valley College, included Rep. Steve Useful, Landon Stevens, coverage director of the Conservative Vitality Community, and Steve Ryder, the VP and CFO of Clearwater Vitality Group.

Panelists broached how — and if — the federal authorities ought to be concerned with new power applied sciences as they proceed to turn into extra prevalent, limitations surrounding the development of renewable power and new renewable power packages throughout the state.

In accordance with Stevens, the extra that new power applied sciences develop, the extra he sees a job for the federal authorities inside these industries. Nevertheless, he hopes there can be fewer rules sooner or later.

“There may be extra of a job for the federal authorities to play, however I don’t suppose it’s the best way that not less than the Biden administration has been approaching it proper now,” he mentioned. “What I actually suppose the nation wants once we’re speaking about power future is extra of an method of rolling again the regulatory hurdles for getting metal within the floor is what we name it.”

Rick Bowmer, Related Press

The Utah State Capitol is proven behind an oil refinery on Thursday, Might 12, 2022, in Salt Lake Metropolis.

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Stevens believes that the federal authorities could possibly be useful in paving the best way for brand new power by serving to plan the required infrastructure.

“In know-how improvement for 100 years, it’s sort of all the time been the identical manner, and within the final 20 we’ve seen this large shift in the direction of new applied sciences,” he mentioned. “I feel the federal authorities has a job in how we plan that regional infrastructure to finest benefit from these new applied sciences.”

When requested what limitations are being confronted by way of transitioning to cleaner power, Ryder mentioned that a few of the greatest hurdles are the transmission and lack of management.

“Transmission’s an enormous one. There’s a number of useful resource in western elements of the USA in locations like Idaho, Montana, Utah, simply to call a number of,” he mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s arduous typically to get that useful resource in producing the electrical energy to the load websites down in Salt Lake Metropolis and different main cities within the area.”

Useful mentioned HB 411, the Group Renewable Vitality Act, which he sponsored in 2019. This invoice, which handed and was signed into regulation, created neighborhood power packages with the purpose of getting 100% of the annual electrical energy provide for taking part prospects from a renewable useful resource by 2030. In accordance with Useful, 26 communities have already opted into this system.

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“These communities are actually in negotiation to attempt to determine the speed construction and as this comes collectively, these communities would actually management about 37% of Rocky Mountain Energy’s whole power footprint,” Useful mentioned.

The occasion was organized by the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Coverage and Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Rep. Moore introduces power invoice

First District Rep. Blake Moore additionally launched the Defending American Vitality Act Thursday.

In accordance with a press launch distributed by Moore, this act is meant to decrease gasoline costs and shield and promote power independence.

This invoice would create an annual report on American power capability, manufacturing, and consumption, and require certification that withdrawing land from being made accessible for mineral leasing wouldn’t negatively affect American power independence.

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This invoice would additionally require stories from the Secretaries of the Division of the Inside, the Division of Protection, the Division of Commerce, the Division of Vitality, and the Division of State on how present occasions may affect America’s power wants.

“If the Biden Administration is so positive unleashing home power manufacturing wouldn’t clear up our skyrocketing gasoline costs and nationwide safety issues, Individuals should know why,” Moore mentioned in a press launch. “The Defending American Vitality Act will be certain that home power manufacturing can proceed with out political interference and maintain the Administration accountable as we search to grasp their unwillingness to work with home power producers on options to our crippling power crises. We’d like solutions now.”

In accordance with the press launch, this invoice has help from the Western Vitality Alliance, the U.S. Oil and Gasoline Affiliation, the Unbiased Affiliation of Drilling Contractors, and the Vitality Workforce and Know-how Council.

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Utah

Utah man triggers avalanche and saves brother buried under the snow | CNN

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Utah man triggers avalanche and saves brother buried under the snow | CNN




CNN
 — 

A man rescued his brother from a “large avalanche” he triggered while the pair were snowmobiling in Utah on Wednesday, authorities said.

The brothers were in the Franklin Basin area of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest when one of them triggered the avalanche while “side-hilling in a bowl beneath a cliff band in Steep Hollow,” an initial accident report from the Utah Avalanche Center read.

He saw the slope “ripple below and around him” and was able to escape by riding off the north flank of the avalanche, according to the report.

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But his brother, who was farther down the slope standing next to his sled, was swept up by the avalanche, carried about 150 yards by the heavy snow and fully buried, the avalanche center said.

Using a transceiver, the man was able to locate his brother underneath the snow, seeing only “a couple fingers of a gloved hand sticking out,” the report said.

The buried brother was dug out and sustained minor injuries, according to the avalanche center. The two were able to ride back to safety.

The Utah Avalanche Center warned that similar avalanche conditions will be common in the area and are expected to rise across the mountains in North Utah and Southeast Idaho ahead of the weekend.

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Snow expected in Utah valleys and mountains

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Snow expected in Utah valleys and mountains


SALT LAKE CITY — According to forecasters, several parts of Utah will receive snow Thursday morning and evening.

On Wednesday, the Utah Department of Transportation issued a road weather alert, warning drivers of slick roads caused by a storm that will arrive in two different waves.

UDOT said the first wave should arrive along the Wasatch Front after 8 to 9 a.m. and will move southward across the state until around noon. By 10 to 11 a.m., most roads are expected to be wet.

“This wave of snow only lasts for a few hours before dissipating around noon or shortly after for many routes,” UDOT stated on its weather alert.

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UDOT said an inch or two of snow could be seen in Davis and Weber counties due to cold captures temperatures in the morning.

The Wasatch Back and mountain routes are expected to receive a few inches of snow through noon, with some heavy road snow over the upper Cottonwoods, Logan Summit, Sardine Summit, and Daniels Summit, according to UDOT.

Travelers in central Utah should prepare for a light layer of snow, with an inch or two predicted in the mountains.

Second wave of snow in Utah

According to UDOT, there will be a lull in snow early to mid-Thursday afternoon. But there should be another wave of snow from 4 to 6 p.m.

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“With temperatures a bit warmer at this point, the Wasatch Front will likely see more of a rain/snow mix,” UDOT said. “However, some showers may be briefly heavy for short periods of time and be enough to slush up the roads late afternoon/evening with bench routes seeing the higher concern.”

UDOT predicted the Wasatch Back and northern mountain routes to receive another couple of inches during the second wave.

The storm is expected to end around 9 p.m. for the Wasatch Front and valleys, while the mountains will continue to receive snow until about midnight.





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Judge orders legal fees paid to Utah newspaper that defended libel suit

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Judge orders legal fees paid to Utah newspaper that defended libel suit


SALT LAKE CITY — A businessman has been ordered to pay almost $400,000 to the weekly Utah newspaper he sued for libel.

It’s to cover the legal fees of the Millard County Chronicle Progress. In September, it became the first news outlet to successfully use a 2023 law meant to protect First Amendment activities.

The law also allows for victorious defendants to pursue their attorney fees and related expenses. The plaintiff, Wayne Aston, has already filed notice he is appealing the dismissal of his lawsuit.

As for the legal fees, Aston’s attorneys contended the newspaper’s lawyers overbilled. But Judge Anthony Howell, who sits on the bench in the state courthouse in Fillmore, issued an order Monday giving the Chronicle Progress attorneys everything they asked for – $393,597.19.

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Jeff Hunt, a lawyer representing the Chronicle Progress, said in an interview Tuesday with FOX 13 News the lawsuit “was an existential threat” to the newspaper.

“It would have imposed enormous financial cost on the on the newspaper just to defend itself,” Hunt said.

“It’s just a very strong deterrent,” Hunt added, “when you get an award like this, from bringing these kinds of meritless lawsuits in the first place.”

Aston sued the Chronicle Progress in December 2023 after it reported on his proposal to manufacture modular homes next to the Fillmore airport and the public funding he sought for infrastructure improvements benefiting the project. Aston’s suit contended the Chronicle Progress published “false and defamatory statements.”

The suit asked for “not less” than $19.2 million.

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In its dismissal motion, attorneys for the newspaper said the reporting was accurate and protected by a statute the Utah Legislature created in 2023 to safeguard public expression and other First Amendment activities.

Howell, in a ruling in September, said the 2023 law applies to the Chronicle Progress. He also repeatedly pointed out how the plaintiff didn’t dispute many facts reported by the newspaper.





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