Highs and Lows: Utah’s Energy Innovation

This week, I had the privilege of meeting with Utahns in the southwest corner of the state, and my high is coming to you from Iron County, where I participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Clearway Honeycomb Energy Center. This approximately $600 million investment pairs large-scale battery storage with nearby solar resources—supporting the all-of-the-above energy approach we need to power the future. It features American-made equipment and 100% domestic steel, and will help ensure cost-effective, reliable, and dispatchable energy for communities across the region. Now for the low. While meeting with folks throughout this part of the state, they’ve consistently raised the drought as a top concern for their communities. Currently, 100% of Utah is experiencing some level of drought, with a significant majority of the state classified under “extreme” drought conditions. This is due to a record-low snowpack and unusually high spring temperatures. This is prompting several measures to get us through the year, including releasing water from Flaming Gorge—which has impacts on our water resources, local economies, and recreation—and consumer water restrictions. Hopefully, we’ll have a little luck from Mother Nature, but there is still a lot of work to be done by local leaders and communities. Have a great weekend! Read Newsletter