Above: Wilkes Center energy future panel discussion: from left, Laura Nelson (Idaho National Laboratory), Joseph Moore (Utah FORGE), William Anderegg (Wilkes Center for Climate Policy and Policy), Teresa Foley (rPlus Energies), Logan Mitchell (Utah Clean Energy)

At a recent panel discussion at the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy’s annual summit at the University of Utah, energy experts gathered to discuss the future of alternative energy in Utah.

The panel represented a diverse cross-section of Utah’s energy landscape, featuring leaders from a national laboratory, academic research, non-profit advocacy and private industry. What emerged was a picture of a state uniquely positioned to lead in the clean energy transition, with abundant natural resources and a collaborative approach to energy development.

What also became evident during the discussion, moderated by Wilkes Center director William Anderegg, is that the U continues to be a key player in moving publicly funded research directly and often quickly to market, scaling new technologies for the benefit of all Utahns. “One Utah” and “The University for Utah” are not just aspirational mantras but actual products and services currently materializing in communities across the state. Large-scale energy production and grid expansion and resilience are no exception.

Utah’s ‘energy royal flush’

“Utah was dealt the energy royal flush,” said Teresa Foxley, chief of staff for rPlus Energies, referencing an op-ed her company published recently about Utah’s diverse energy resources. Beyond traditional fossil fuels, Utah boasts exceptional renewable resources including solar, wind and geothermal, positioning the state for leadership in the energy transition.

Foxley’s company, a Salt Lake City-based renewable energy developer, exemplifies this potential. rPlus Energies is currently constructing the Green River Energy Center in Emery County, a massive 400-megawatt solar project paired with 400 megawatts of battery storage. When completed in 2026, it will be “the second largest project of its type in the country,” she said and represents a $1.1 billion investment in rural Utah.

The company is also developing pump storage hydro projects, a technology that pairs well with both renewable and nuclear energy by storing energy when abundant and releasing it during peak demand periods.

World-leading geothermal research

Josepth Moore, a research professor at the U, highlighted the state’s leadership in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). He directs the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), a Department of Energy-funded project in Milford, Utah.

“FORGE is the only facility of its kind in the world, and so people around the world are certainly looking at us,” Moore stated. “We are leading the world in enhanced geothermal development already.”

Unlike traditional geothermal systems that rely on naturally occurring hot springs, EGS creates geothermal reservoirs by fracturing hot rock deep underground. The FORGE project has made significant advances in reducing drilling costs and developing new stimulation techniques that have attracted interest from major energy companies.

Moore emphasized geothermal’s enormous potential: “Tapping even 2% of the energy between two and six miles would give us more than 2000 times the yearly US energy needs. Keep in mind, this is clean. This is benign, very low environmental impact, very low induced seismic risks.”

Nuclear’s role in a clean energy future

Laura Nelson, Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) regional engagement lead in Utah, discussed how nuclear energy can contribute to a reliable, clean energy future. Often considered “the nation’s nuclear energy lab,” INL, located in Idaho Falls, has been at the forefront of nuclear energy research for 75 years.

“We have a vision to change the world’s energy future,” Nelson said, describing INL’s mission to create “a resilient and sustainable energy future for everyone…that’s affordable, reliable, resilient and accessible.”

Nelson highlighted the growing interest in advanced nuclear reactors in Utah and throughout the West. Unlike the large nuclear plants built in the 1970s, she explained, these newer designs include small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors that offer flexibility for various applications, from providing consistent power for AI data centers to supporting military operations in remote locations.

“We need power that’s available when other resources may not be available, that we can call on 24/7, that can be there to meet our energy needs when maybe other resources aren’t available, or if we have failures on the system,” Nelson explained, emphasizing the importance of “firm power” in an increasingly renewable-heavy grid.

Clean energy economics and climate action

Logan Mitchell, a climate scientist and energy analyst with Utah Clean Energy, brought the climate perspective to the discussion. As a nonprofit organization that has worked for 25 years to accelerate climate solutions in Utah, Utah Clean Energy focuses on decarbonizing buildings, transportation and the electricity sector.

Mitchell highlighted how economics is now driving the clean energy transition: “Clean energy is the most cost-effective form of energy production. It’s just more efficient…right now. This is the economics, and the efficiency of it is really overtaking other motivations.”

He also emphasized how renewable energy is bringing economic benefits to rural communities through tax revenue: “This pays for the local community center, the pharmacies and the pharmacists and the hospitals in those communities and is giving a lifeline to those communities.”

Collaboration as Utah’s strength

A common theme throughout the discussion in front of an appreciative late-afternoon crowd was Utah’s collaborative approach to energy development. The panelists agreed that Utah’s pragmatism and willingness to work across different energy resources has positioned the state as a leader in energy innovation.

As Mitchell noted, “We all need to get there together. We can’t leave behind the communities that powered us in the past. We all need to get there together.”

When asked about Utah’s electricity mix in 2035, the panelists offered varied predictions but generally agreed that the state would see more renewable energy, storage solutions and potentially nuclear power in its future. Mitchell suggested the grid could ultimately reach about 70% wind and solar with 30% “dispatchable” resources like geothermal, nuclear and hydropower

For Utah to overcome barriers to scaling these technologies, the panelists identified several challenges: misconceptions about renewable energy reliability, regulatory hurdles and permitting timelines, technological limitations and costs. Even so, they remained optimistic about Utah’s potential to lead in clean energy development through continued innovation and collaboration.

Higher education’s impact happening now

As Utah’s flagship RI university, the U is a critical player in the future of energy production in the Beehive State. Beyond hosting the 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit, which annually convenes leading policymakers, and nationally recognized scientists, foundations, and innovators to discuss the most promising and cutting-edge solutions for climate change, the U demonstrates repeatedly how academics and research translate directly and often quickly to public benefits.

As Nelson summarized: “Utah is a special place, and I appreciate that we often come together collaboratively when we disagree upon solutions, and our energy system is a critical part of that, because it’s so important to our quality of life, to our economies.”