Solar power in Utah

50 kW photovoltaic array installed June 1980 at Natural Bridges National Monument
US annual average solar energy received by a latitude tilt photovoltaic cell (modeled).

Solar power in Utah has the potential to provide all of the electricity used in the United States.[1] Utah is one of the seven US states with the best potential for solar power, along with California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas.[2] Utah allows net metering for residential systems up to 25 kW and up to 2 MW for non-residential users.[3] Utah's renewable portfolio standard can best be described as a goal and calls for obtaining 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025 - if it is cost effective.[4]

By 2011, with the 30% federal tax credit, prices have decreased to the point that they provide an attractive return on investment.[5] Utah allows up to 25% $2,000 tax credit for residential systems and up to 10% $50,000 credit for commercial systems.[6] St. George offers a $2000/kW(AC) rebate of up to $6,000 for residential systems, and up to $20,000 for commercial systems.[7] A similar offer from Rocky Mountain Power of $1.10/watt (AC) has been fully subscribed for 2016, and in March 2016 the program was terminated by the Utah Legislature Senate Bill SB0115.[8]

Utah has the potential to generate 1,500,000 GWh/year from 826 GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants using 6,371 square miles - about 7.5% of the state.[9] CSP has the advantage over photovoltaics of integrating storage, allowing 24-hour operation, and allowing the hourly output to track demand, with the balance stored as heat.[10] CSP is not able to compensate for seasonal changes, although in the southwest peak demand correlates with peak solar output, due to air conditioning loads. Utah is one of 11 states each able to provide all of the electricity used in the United States from CSP.[1]

On Oct 8, 2015, Utah's largest solar array at the time was completed, the 2.02 MW array at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy.[11]

Solar Energy Zones

On April 20, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management identified 17 "Solar Energy Zones" with the best potential for priority solar development. Three of those are in Utah. In addition to the Solar Energy Zones, an additional 18,098,040 acres is available in Utah for solar application permits from the BLM, plus 1,962,671 acres with a variance.[12]

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics (MWp)[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
Year Total Installed % Change
2007 0.2
2008 0.2 0
2009 0.6 0.4 200
2010 2.1 1.4 250
2011 4.4 2.3 110
2012 10.0 5.6 127
2013 16.0 6.0 60
2014 24 8 50
2015 255 231 962

Residential Use of Solar Arrays

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that about 2,700 customers of Rocky Mountain Power have solar arrays as of May 2014; a number that is growing by 30% a year.[24]

Rocky Mountain Power, subsidy of PacifiCorp and utility provider for the state of Utah, offers incentives between $0.60 and $1.25 per watt generated by participants in Net metering.[25]

Usage and Production

Utah's energy resource consumption consists of both fossils fuels and renewable resources. In 2009, residents, business and industries combined, consumed approximately 27,411 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity; 0.01% of which was solar generated. Of the total energy produced in 2009, 1090 trillion Btus, 0.1% was solar generated.[26]

Solar energy production via residential net-metering has increased steadily since 2008. From 2008 to 2009, the number of households participating in the program grew fivefold, placing Utah 18th, in the country.[27]

According to Utah Governor Herbert's 10-Year Strategic Energy Plan, 72% of crude oil used in transportation, comes from out of state sources; pursuance of clean technology for nontraditional fuels is "critical to [Utah's] economy, air quality and quality of life".

State Legislation

Utah's solar easement provisions are similar to those in other states, in that parties may voluntarily enter into written contracts, enforceable by law that once created run with the land.[28] However, The Utah Public Service Commission plans to execute a cost-benefit analysis of consumer produced electricity and it's effects on the current electrical system. This study may set national precedent, as no state's regulatory agency has conducted a full-scale examination of net-metered solar power. Unfortunately the study does not take into consideration the benefits of clean energy on health and the environment, It evaluates the solar generated energy as if it was generated by coal, which is the majority source of power generated by Rocky Mountain Power. Many eastern states do value their clean energy with cap-and-trade legislation.[29] Utah also provides a nonrefundable and refundable tax credit for qualifying solar projects. .

A controversial legislative bill in the Utah Senate SB0115 sponsored by Senator Stuart J. Adams put an end to the Rocky Mountain Power Solar Incentive Program in March 2016. The bill was titled "Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act" but contained language that lacked support for Solar Energy, even after several amendments. Some claim that the complex bill was aimed to bypass the oversight of the Public Service Commission and allow a path to make rooftop solar unattractive. The Senate bill failed a vote in the House of Representatives late in the afternoon of the last day the legislature was in session, and Solar proponents were relieved. But later that night 'after dinner' the bill was brought back to the house for 'reconsideration' by Representative V. Lowry Snow, and after further dialogue from Representative Snow, another vote was taken in the House of Representatives and this time the bill passed.[30] KSL article "House approves resurrected Rocky Mountain Power bill" [31]

A previous attempt to change the Solar Net Metering agreement for Rocky Mountain Power was rejected by the Utah Public Service Commission. This brings into question the support for rooftop Solar in Utah by the state's largest utility Rocky Mountain Power, which is now owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE).

"Buffett Says He Loves Renewables, So Why Is His Company Trying To Kill Solar Energy?"[32]

"Warren Buffett’s Energy Company Says Net Metering Should Be ‘Eliminated’"[33]

Utah’s Solar Access Law

Under Utah Code, Title 10, Chapter 9a, Section 610, provides land use authorities the power to refuse approval or renewal of Homeowner association or other Private Covenants that prohibit “reasonably sited and designed solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based”.[34]Bill

Solar Easements

Voluntary solar easements may be created by property owners to protect long-term access to sunlight. Easements must be “created in writing and shall be filed, duly recorded and indexed in the office of the recorder of the county in which the easement is granted” Bill .[35]

Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR)

The passage of Utah State Bill 75 in 2006, allocated $179 million to the USTAR Economic Development Initiative, $15 million in ongoing annual funding to research teams at the University of Utah and Utah State University and $160 million towards the construction of new research facilities.[36]

Included in this appropriation is funding for alternative and renewable energy research, including catalysis and solar technologies.[37] Resulting new bioengineering companies include Binergy Scientific,[38] Nanosynth Materials and Sensors, and Nanosynth Energy Technologies.[39]

Economic Impacts

From fiscal years 2007 through 2011, USTAR generated more than $700 million in jobs-related earnings, gross state product, state tax revenue and local tax revenue, as outlined in the table below from 2012 report by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah[40]

Fiscal Year Jobs Earnings Gross State Product State Tax Revenue Local Tax Revenue
2007 81 $2,875,439 $5,325,218 $251,543 $42,987
2008 380 $14,135,998 $26,906,145 $1,236,617 $211,334
2009 1247 $46,434,837 $83,636,815 $4,062,119 $694,200
2010 2822 $103,467,769 $176,305,186 $9,051,361 $1,546,842
2011 2930 $109,051,162 $191,973,226 $9,609,852 $1,642,287
Totals N/A $275,965,205 $484,146,590 $24,181,492 $4,137,650

Construction

Construction spending for USTAR research facilities has had the largest economic impacts to the state, supporting an average of 801 jobs annually and generated $143.2 million in Utah jobs earnings. Both facilities, the BioInnovations Center at Utah State University and the Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building at the University of Utah are LEED Gold certified.

Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building

Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building

Officially dedicated in 2012, the James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building is part of a four building quadrangle. The 208,000 square feet building features a transparent design, enabling natural light to enter 75% of the interiors. Built to LEED Gold certification standards, the facility will reduce energy and use costs by nearly 40%. Sustainable features include multistage evaporative cooling systems and low volatile organic compound finishes. Vegetated bioswales, incorporated in the landscaping, collect and filter surface runoff.

A total of 33,000 cubic yards of concrete and 6.8 million pounds of reinforcing steel were used in the construction of the building. Concrete used features high fly ash content. Local, renewably sourced stone and copper were also utilized in construction.[41]

Training Efforts

After a ranking of 34th in the nation, Utah has taken greater steps to produce green jobs within the state. The creation of Internmountain Weatherization Training center in Clearfield, Utah has trained thousands of new workers for green jobs throughout the state; including certified solar installation.[42][43] The goal of the 14,000 square-feet facility is to use hands on training with state of the art equipment to train workers in accordance to the U.S. Department of Energy guidelines for home energy professionals.[44] The Intermountain Weatherization Center (IWC) is funded from private contributions, donations, grants, fees, any money appropriated by the Legislature.[42][45]

Planned Projects

Energy Capital Group, LLC (ECG) is developing ECG Utah Solar 1, LLC www.ecgutahsolar1.com an 300 MW-AC PV solar plant strategically sited to utilize existing interstate transmission infrastructure on 1754 acres leased from the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands (SITLA) less than one mile from the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) north of Delta, Utah.

The project’s planned interconnection point is the IPP switchyard which is a point of delivery for the Los Angeles, Anaheim, Riverside, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank utilities. The switchyard connects to the Southern Transmission System (STS) the 500 HVDC line (Path 27) that travels 488 miles directly to a switchyard in Adelanto, Ca (see map http://www.oatioasis.com/LDWP/LDWPdocs/pathmap6.pdf ). LADWP is a California Balancing Authority and operates the switchyard which makes this project as though it is on California soil for the state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).

http://www.kcet.org/news/redefine/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/ladwp-may-be-buying-utah-sun.html

Utah Olympic Oval Solar Project

Utah Olympic Oval

The Utah Olympic Oval plans to install more than 3,000 solar panels above parking stalls that will generate some of the power needed to operate the facility. Current project estimates predict the addition of solar panels to save the facility $100,000 of its $750,000 annual power costs.

At a cost of $1.4 million, the Utah Olympic Oval Solar Project is largest solar project to date of the Utah state Division of Construction and Facilities Management and is expected to pay for itself in five years and end up saving $3.7 million over its 20-year life.[46]

SunSmart Solar Farm

SunSmart is a project in St. George, Utah to provide residents an opportunity to take advantage of community solar farm. The purchaser is not required to set anything up and there is no maintenance making it a simple risk free investment.[47] With this program, participants pay $2.95 more per month for each 100kWh block of power, a cost increase from $.0671/kWh to $.0966/kWh. These payments help cover the building costs of renewable energy sources, which are typically greater than traditional, carbon-based sources of power. The revenue from this program will allow further development and research for other renewable sources [48]

Red Hills Renewable Energy Park

Scatec Solar built the largest photovoltaic project in Utah, completed in 2015.[49] The project takes advantage of the abundant sunshine, cool higher elevation and private land close to an existing Rocky Mountain Power substation. Google, Scatec Solar ASA and Prudential Capital are investors in the project.[50] Building will take place in two phases, with completion in December 2015.[51] Total costs are estimated at $500 million.[51] Construction was anticipated to create appropriately 120 to 200 jobs, of which 80% will be local. The 632 acre solar farm will produce 104.7 megawatts (DC), 80 megawatts (AC), of electricity.[52] The 340,784 modules are expected to produce 210 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year.[53] Additionally, the project involves plans to build a visitor center to educate the public on solar energy production and provide in-depth explanation of photovoltaic cells.[51]

Generation (MWh)[54]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSeptOctNovDecTotal
2016 10,077 15,475 17,130 17,647 60,329

Public Opinion

The majority of Utahans support making large-scale solar development in desert, according to the 2013 Gallup study “Americans want more Emphasis on Solar, Wind, Natural Gas”.[55]

According to the same study, 76% of Americans think that the United States should put a greater emphasis on domestic solar energy production. While views varied regionally about which types of domestic energy should be prioritized, solar powered was of the greatest importance in every region.


Republicans vs. Democrats In the research, the republicans agree the natural gas should be the new most emphasis domestic energy but Democrats thought solar power should be that. (78% vs. 87%). Republicans are also much more supportive than Democrats of coal (51% vs. 21%).

See also

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis pg. 13
  2. ↑ Southwest Solar Energy Potential pg. 33
  3. ↑ Utah Net Metering
  4. ↑ Renewables Portfolio Goal
  5. ↑ Tribune, The Salt Lake. "Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive - The Salt Lake Tribune".
  6. ↑ Renewable Energy: Incentives
  7. ↑ The City of St. George Net Metering Policy Overview
  8. ↑ "Utah Solar Incentive Program".
  9. ↑ Solar 101
  10. ↑ Kingdom, Elsevier Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1GB, United. "Innovation in Concentrating Thermal Solar Power (CSP) - Renewable Energy Focus".
  11. ↑ "Rio Tinto Stadium Unveils Utah's Largest Solar Array".
  12. ↑ "Solar Energy Development PEIS Information Center".
  13. ↑ "Escalante Valley Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) - Utah".
  14. ↑ "Milford Flats South Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) - Utah".
  15. ↑ "Wah Wah Valley Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) - Utah".
  16. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  17. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  18. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  19. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  20. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  21. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  22. ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  23. ↑ "Utah Solar".
  24. ↑ Tribune, The Salt Lake. "Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive - The Salt Lake Tribune".
  25. ↑ https://www.rockymountainpower.net/content/dam/rocky_mountain_power/doc/About_Us/Rates_and_Regulation/Utah/Approved_Tariffs/Rate_Schedules/Solar_Incentive_Program.pdf
  26. ↑ http://energy.utah.gov/download/reports/10year-strategic-energy.pdf
  27. ↑ http://www.eia.gov/renewable/annual/greenpricing/pdf/table5-2.pdf
  28. ↑ http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=UT01R
  29. ↑ "Utah Public Service Commission -".
  30. ↑ "SB0115".
  31. ↑ "House approves resurrected Rocky Mountain Power bill - KSL.com".
  32. ↑ http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/07/3755717/buffett-solar-energy/ Warren Buffet on residential Solar
  33. ↑ http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/berkshire-hathaway-skeptical-about-distributed-energy Buffet wants to end Net Metering
  34. ↑ http://le.utah.gov/code/TITLE10/htm/10_09a061000.htm
  35. ↑ http://le.utah.gov/code/TITLE57/htm/57_13_000200.htm
  36. ↑ "SB0075".
  37. ↑ http://www.innovationutah.com/innovation-research/research-teams/alternative-renewable-energy-cluster/
  38. ↑ "Binergy Scientific Inc".
  39. ↑ "Home".
  40. ↑ http://www.innovationutah.com/assets/USTAR_Econ_Contributions-BEBR-042712.pdf.
  41. ↑ "James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building, Utah".
  42. 1 2 "New Weatherization Training Center Opens in Utah".
  43. ↑ http://www.utah.gov/governor/docs/10year-stragegic-energy.pdf
  44. ↑ "(no title)".
  45. ↑ "COBI 2014 - Intermountain Weatherization Training Fund".
  46. ↑ Roche, Lisa Riley (21 July 2014). "New solar energy project at Utah Olympic Oval will save $$$".
  47. ↑ "SunSmart".
  48. ↑ "Clean Power - Sustainable Energy Programs - SunSmart".
  49. ↑ Utah's first solar plant among 12 largest in North America, KSL.com, Amy Joi O'Donoghue, December 11, 2015
  50. ↑ Google Backs Utah’s Largest Solar Power Plant, Wall Street Journal, January 6, 2015
  51. 1 2 3 "Largest solar project in Utah coming to Iron County".
  52. ↑ Tribune, The Salt Lake. "Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive - The Salt Lake Tribune".
  53. ↑ Google Makes Two More Solar, Wind Investments, Forbes, January 19, 2015
  54. ↑ "Electricity Data Browser".
  55. ↑ Inc., Gallup,. "Americans Want More Emphasis on Solar, Wind, Natural Gas".
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