Local First Utah Op-Ed

Local First Utah’s blog often focuses on the human energy that propels our independent business community. But today I’m going to switch entrepreneurship for concrete kilowatts. You see, Utah’s energy system has some problems. Two of the gravest—air pollution and rapidly rising prices— have local solutions.

In January this year, The Salt Lake Tribune alerted consumers to the grim reality of rising energy rates because, quite frankly, we’re using a lot more of it: “Due to what it describes as the rising demand for electricity throughout the state, the utility warns Utah consumers may see annual price increases of 8 percent to 10 percent annually for the next decade.” This year, rates will only increase by 4.7%, a reduction of the power company’s initial request, but a reduction that suggests Rocky Mountain Power will be back before the Public Service Commission next year asking again for another hike.

It seems that as long as our energy needs keep rising we’ll have no choice but to pay the higher rates. But alternative energy proponents disagree, believing that as long as we’re investing more in energy now, it should be in sources that will continue to generate energy for the long haul. That, rather than gradually paying more for “traditional” and ultimately finite sources—sources that are, arguably, much more harmful to our health.

So, what…are we talking about solar panels on our roofs? We just might be. We just might be. But that idea is only part of the equation, which, it turns out, is literally what we are talking about: an equation. In fact, the equation is a series of integrated calculations that maximizes energy inputs from renewable energy sources at the moment of their peak generation that is designed, eventually, to largely or completely offset dependence upon coal and natural gas.

“One of the biggest arguments against renewable energy,” notes HEAL Utah’s Energy Analyst Arthur Morris, “is that it is intermittent and therefore cannot be predicted and therefore cannot be integrated. But Morris says we can look at meteorology as a useful comparison. “Everyone knows you can (to an extent) predict the weather. Is it perfect? No. But it’s a damn fine ballpark.” The equation forecasts both energy needs and energy generation.

Look, we’re paying more for energy—even self-styled “cheap” fossil fuels. That’s a reality. We will continue to pay more as long as alternatives aren’t developed. Investment in alternative energy can ensure that some of those most vulnerable to constantly increasing rates—small businesses—can remain sustainable for the long term.

That’s Local First Utah’s mission to the core.

In Search of Innovation

But please note: the following opinion does not necessarily reflect that of Local First Utah or its sponsors. The ideas are, however, concerned with protecting the public health of Utah’s citizens through responsible, local energy development.

Embedded, traditional energy structures have effectively maintained status quo by delivering what had been for a long time the lowest-cost energy on the market. Improvements in technologies harnessing alternatives sources, including wind, solar, and geothermal are beginning to level the playing field—and they avoid external costs (those not factored into the projected rates) of public health.

In short, think of all those “red alert” air days in Northern Utah during which it is recommended that children, the elderly, people with autoimmune disorders, and anyone who cares about breathing stay inside.

The fact is we have some of the worst air in the nation. As Utah Department of Environmental Quality points out, our winter inversions cannot be prevented, but the pollution that gets trapped in the valley and in our lungs can. While surrounding western states such as Colorado and California have legislated tough renewable energy standards, Utah is lagging behind, in spite of the impacts of our dependence upon fossil fuels on our health.

I have blogged before about local energy. Remember Moab? “The localization movement encompasses more than just food production. Moab (for example) is already harnessing healthier, renewable energy in the form of wind, a commitment that earned the city the distinction of being the Nation's First EPA Green Power Community.”

States generate (and often export) energy from a variety of energy sources, including both traditional fossil fuel-based energy and more modern, renewable sources. While a number of states have legislated renewable portfolio standards (RPSs), Utah has simply established renewable energy goals.

Utah’s code “requires that utilities only need to pursue renewable energy to the extent that it is ‘cost-effective’ to do so” based upon an “assessment of whether acquisition of the resource will result in the delivery of electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, as well as an assessment of long-term and short-term impacts, risks, reliability, financial impacts on the affected utility, and other factors determined by the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC).” The idea is to ensure Utah ratepayers are given the lowest cost, lowest risk energy. While the short-term low cost of fossil fuels is appealing, the elevated rate of environmental illnesses in our children is not.

The Local Solution: Wherever Local Is

There are several entrepreneurs and independent business owners working locally to develop and manufacture energy that can help nurture a transition to cleaner, safer, more local energy. But it will take an investment by people and local government to ensure their viability and competitiveness in a market flooded with cheaper products from abroad. Local energy production should ideally combine domestic manufacturing with renewable, localized, and readily available sources. Even the conversation about building costly twin nuclear power reactors in Green River is troubling in part because the power is likely destined to leave Utah, doing nothing to ensure Utah's energy independence. Meanwhile, the recent conversation about reducing our dependence upon foreign oil has turned our focus to domestic natural gas and, more recently, controversial oil "tar" sands from Canada.

We can do better.

An expert in air pollution and a leader in renewable energy development says he has the answer to powering the future world’s energy needs using only renewable sources. He is Stanford professor Dr. Mark Jacobson, and he will be visiting Utah on November 15th to discuss his plan for a safer, cleaner, and independent energy future. Dr. Jacobson will be visiting in conjunction with a fundraiser for a local nonprofit that has led grassroots efforts to keep foreign and excessive radioactive waste out of Utah—and which is looking to the future of Utah by supporting research that improves the health and integrity of our state through thoughtful, local development.

The same brand of initiative and ingenuity that define America—or better still, the sheer industriousness of Utahns—will power our future. Indeed, these ideas are not so big a shift from this blog’s core after all. It’s energy entrepreneurship driven by human entrepreneurship. They’re ideas that, in the long term, protect and empower independent businesses in our great state.