America is facing an energy crunch and we have to build our way out

The following piece from Weld County Commissioner Scott James originally ran in the Greeley Tribune on November 7, 2025 and can be accessed here.

Scott James: America is facing an energy crunch and we have to build our way out

By SCOTT JAMES

November 7, 2025 at 6:20 AM MST

After decades of stagnant growth, the demand for energy in America is surging again.

A major driver is the return of manufacturing, after decades of offshoring, thanks to President Trump negotiating new trade and investment deals with other countries. An even bigger reason is America’s determination to win the global race for dominance in artificial intelligence (AI).

The rise of AI and the growing use of cloud computing by businesses and individuals is fueling a boom in data center construction across the country. In the short term, all those new data centers will need a staggering amount of electricity to power their operations – roughly 150-400 terawatt hours per year by 2028, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

In practical terms, that could mean building more new power plants than currently exist in California, Oregon and Washington state in the space of just a few years.

The construction of data centers, power plants, transmission lines, pipelines and other kinds of energy infrastructure could be a gamechanger for the U.S. economy, and especially rural America.

But none of it – none – can happen without every individual project and piece of infrastructure getting a federal permit of some kind.

And there we have a problem. Despite several attempts at reform, America’s permitting system for major construction projects is still woefully inefficient. It’s even been weaponized by fringe activist groups to block commonsense infrastructure projects that would be permitted in a heartbeat by other countries.

There are many cases where permitting reviews that could be completed in months but are taking years instead, and it’s destroying our ability to stay ahead of countries like China.  Just look at the 15 years it took to permit the 700-mile TransWest transmission line. The madness has to stop.

This is why the work of Republican Congressman Gabe Evans of Colorado, a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, deserves to be highlighted.

Congressman Evans worked with three other members of the caucus from California, Pennsylvania and New York to develop a series of reforms to the U.S. permitting system that are badly overdue.

Some highlights of the Evans framework for permitting reform include:

• Speed up permitting through clear and enforceable deadlines for agency decisions and court challenges.

• Replace outdated paper systems with centralized digital platforms and online portals, which will reduce delays and increase public transparency.

• Eliminate duplicative environmental reviews and court challenges for pipeline and transmission line projects that ask and answer the same questions over and over. 

• Take politics out of cross-border infrastructure projects – like the Keystone XL pipeline, which was killed by former president Joe Biden on his first day in office – by removing the White House from the formal approval process.

The framework isn’t about reducing environmental safeguards – it’s about giving those safeguards a chance to actually work by allowing well-designed and environmentally responsible projects to enter construction.

“We have to make sure that we can navigate our own regulatory environment to be able to build these things here in the United States with some of the best and most environmentally and socially responsible guidelines, really anywhere on the planet,” Congressman Evans told Colorado Public Radio.

The new reality of American energy demand will require every energy technology we can muster, including solar, battery storage, natural gas turbines, geothermal, wind, and nuclear – and the reforms being pushed by Congressman Evans and his bipartisan allies will help all of those energy sources move through the permitting process faster.

Without these projects, our nation is staring down the barrel of a less reliable energy system and more expensive energy. That’s bad enough on its own, but failure to build will also hand victory in the global AI race to China, which is notorious for building things fast with few, if any, safeguards.

Like it or not, whichever nation wins the AI race will have the best weapons and control the flow of information in an increasingly digital world. Losing is not an option, and as a country, it’s time we started acting like it.

Senator John Curtis Hosts Fourth Annual Conservative Climate Summit

Senator John Curtis (R-UT) recently hosted the Fourth Annual Conservative Climate Summit at the University of Utah, bringing together policymakers—including Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright—business leaders, researchers, and community stakeholders to discuss practical, market-driven solutions to Utah's natural resource challenges.

The summit focused on addressing Utah's growing water demand, wildfire risk, and energy needs through innovation and conservative principles of stewardship, featuring conversations on renewables, nuclear, geothermal, and forest management. TWW’s Steve Handy moderated a panel on issues facing Utah’s agricultural producers.

"The Conservative Climate Summit continues to show that conservatives are leading with practical, durable solutions for our environment and economy," Curtis said. "Utahns care deeply about clean air, healthy forests, and reliable, affordable energy—and we know those goals are not in conflict."

Senator Curtis founded the Conservative Climate Caucus in 2021 based on the premise that the best environmental solutions come from innovation, not regulation; from markets, not mandates. His "all-of-the-above" energy approach emphasizes that a strong economy and healthy environment are compatible and inseparable.

The Western Way Tours Steamboat Hills Geothermal Facility

TWW recently had the privilege of visiting Omat’s impressive Steamboat Hills geothermal power plant near Reno, Nevada with state and local elected officials.

Located in Washoe County, the Steamboat Hills complex is part of a larger geothermal operation comprising six power plants that utilize advanced binary systems with both air and water cooling technology. In June 2020, the facility completed a major enhancement project that increased the Steamboat Complex's total generating capacity from 65 MW to 84 MW—an impressive addition of approximately 19 MW of power.

The enhancement involved replacing all old generating equipment with state-of-the-art technology, which not only boosted capacity but is also expected to reduce maintenance costs while increasing efficiency. The plant operates under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

For over 30 years, this facility has been producing geothermal energy for the region, and the upgraded plant now provides enough additional electricity to power 22,000 homes.

It was inspiring to see firsthand how geothermal energy harnesses the Earth's natural heat to generate renewable and perpetual power.

The Western Way looks forward to continuing to explore energy innovations that are shaping the future.

In Debate Over Solar Energy, Don’t Cancel Property Rights for Farmers

This piece from TWW’s Greg Brophy originally was published by RealClear Energy on October 9, 2025 and can be accessed here.

In Debate Over Solar Energy, Don’t Cancel Property Rights for Farmers

By Greg Brophy
October 09, 2025

When you’re a farmer, you get a lot of free “advice” from people about how to work the land. The loudest voices are usually from big cities or – even better – Washington, D.C., where political beliefs are usually taken more seriously than real-world experience.

Most of the time, there’s no harm done. Everyone has a right to express their opinion, even when it’s totally misguided.

But when misguided opinions are used to rob farmers of their property rights, so they cannot decide for themselves how to use their own land, that crosses a line.

Usually, the threat comes from the political left. Remember when the Obama administration tried to use the Clean Water Act to seize control of agricultural land? Or when anti-fracking groups attempted to ban oil and natural gas development in farming and ranching communities?

But as a farmer and a conservative, it pains me to say there’s a new threat to our property rights, and this time it’s coming from elements of the political right.

For decades, almost all Republicans were supporters of an “all of the above” energy policy that embraces fossil fuels, nuclear, geothermal, nuclear, hydropower, battery storage and renewable sources like wind and solar where they make sense.

To be sure, during the Biden administration, the level of tax subsidies for wind and solar went too far for most Republicans – which was why President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act created an orderly phase out of these subsidies.

But now GOP members of Congress are going even further, trying to block the development of solar energy facilities on agricultural land, according to E&E News.

Ironically, this new wave of opposition is based on the belief that solar energy is taking up too much land – an argument advanced by researchers at Zhejiang University in China and questionable coverage in the news media.

It wasn’t true then and it isn’t true now.

Outside of farming, I work with a conservative non-profit called The Western Way, which published an analysis on the land-use claims surrounding solar energy on agricultural lands earlier this year.

Here are the facts: Current solar-energy land use is about the same as the land taken up by golf courses, i.e. 0.1% of total U.S. land mass. Even under the most aggressive growth projections,

future solar-energy land use will not surpass 0.5% of total U.S. land mass.

To put this in a wider perspective, the land-use needs of solar energy – both today and decades from now – will be 100 times smaller than the needs of farmers and ranchers.

If there’s a threat to agricultural land, it’s the expansion of cities, suburbs and towns, which have a projected land-use footprint that is more than 10 times the size of solar energy.

And when farming land is converted into new housing subdivisions or shopping malls, it’s usually because the owner can no longer make enough money growing crops and raising livestock to stay in business.

This is why respecting the private property rights of farmers and ranchers is so critical to keeping as much land in agricultural production as possible.

Any farmer will tell you it takes multiple streams of income to keep working the land, and energy production is one of the most reliable options available.

In some cases, that means oil and gas. In other cases, wind turbines or growing crops for biofuels make more sense. More recently, producing solar power and selling that electricity to the local utility or rural cooperative has also emerged as an attractive option.

In fact, depending on the farm and its available resources, it’s possible to generate income from all these sources at the same time – improving margins and keeping the land in active crop or livestock production.

Not only that, there have been major improvements in the design of solar facilities to allow energy production and agricultural production to occur on the same area of land at the same time.

Here in Colorado, for example, we are pioneering the practice of building solar panels several feet off the ground to allow crops to grow and livestock to graze underneath. It’s not as widespread as it could be, but the concept is definitely gaining steam.

It makes no more sense to tell farmers they shouldn’t be producing solar power than it does telling farmers they shouldn’t be producing oil and gas. In fact, shutting down potential income streams for farmers is going to make it more likely they have to sell to real estate developers, hastening the loss of agricultural land rather than slowing it down.

This isn’t about whether you love, hate or don’t have a strong opinion about solar energy. It’s about respecting the private property rights of farmers, so they are free to decide the best ways to make a living on their land.

Farmers who see value in solar projects will pursue them. Those who don’t, won’t.

Whether it comes from the left or the right, any attempt to micromanage or second-guess these decisions is just a play for control over farmers and farming communities. However well-intentioned, this kind of interference makes the loss of agricultural land more likely, not less, by limiting the number of ways in which farmers generate income.

On this question, like so many others, the answer is clear and simple: Respect property rights.

Greg Brophy is a former Republican state senator from Colorado and a fourth-generation corn and melon farmer. He serves as the Rural Energy Network Director of The Western Way.

The Point Development is the latest proof of Utah’s geothermal energy leadership

This opinion piece from TWW’s Steve Handy first ran in The Deseret News on September 28, 2025 and can be accessed here.

Opinion: The Point Development is the latest proof of Utah’s geothermal energy leadership

By Steve Handy

American energy dominance isn’t just about oil and natural gas. It also means tapping into new sources of reliable and affordable energy whenever it makes sense to do so.

For this reason, the Trump administration is strongly in favor of advanced geothermal energy — a technology that leverages existing oil and gas drilling technologies to provide 24/7 heat and power with zero emissions.

This is great news for Utah because we are a national leader in this promising new technology that converts the heat in deep underground rock formations into energy that can be used at the surface.

We are already the third largest geothermal state in the nation and the level of interest in new projects is surging.

The latest example: The Point of the Mountain development, which will convert the former site of the Utah State Prison into a major mixed-use district in Draper.

The Utah Office of Energy Development is exploring how to upgrade an existing geothermal reservoir to heat and cool buildings at the new development. Pump testing and other feasibility work will take place over the coming months.

Geothermal’s potential — both here and across the nation — was a major theme of Utah Energy Week, which was recently held at the University of Utah.

During the event, I was part of a panel discussion on the topic that included experts from Utah State University, the Idaho National Laboratory and geothermal developer Zanskar.

The panel also featured one of the country’s top experts from FORGE, or the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy, Dr. Joseph Moore. Dr. Moore is the managing principal investigator for FORGE, a technology accelerator for advanced geothermal located just outside Milford, about 200 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. This $300 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy is managed by Dr. Moore and his team at the University of Utah’s Energy and Geoscience Institute. The DOE grant is the largest ever for geothermal research.

FORGE is a public-private partnership that’s breaking new records in geothermal efficiency and power output.

Those breakthroughs are already being used by tech giants like Google to power data centers, which are a massive source of new electricity demand — and essential to winning the race against China in the field of artificial intelligence.

Exporting Utah’s geothermal breakthroughs to the rest of the country could be a game changer for both energy and AI dominance.

America as a whole has an estimated 5,000 gigawatts of potential geothermal capacity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. For perspective, that’s roughly the same capacity as 5,000 nuclear power plants — or more than 10 times the number of nuclear plants currently operating across the world.

Imagine the possibilities for our country if just a fraction of this potential could be harnessed.

Geothermal is based on decades of American expertise in drilling and hydraulic fracturing and — unlike other renewables like wind and solar — geothermal energy is available at all hours of the day and night and does not rely on the weather to work.

So, how do we speed up the expansion of geothermal energy across Utah and the rest of the nation?

Just like many other energy sources, including oil and gas, geothermal developers face far too much red tape — especially on federal lands in the American West.

Geothermal projects need the same kind of comprehensive permitting reform as the mines that produce critical minerals, the power lines that move electricity across the country, and the pipelines that transport oil and natural gas from where they’re produced to where they’re consumed.

Federal policymakers also need to support continued investment in advanced geothermal technologies through public-private partnerships like FORGE and through favorable tax policies for new projects.

Likewise, state and local officials need to embrace the game-changing potential of advanced geothermal energy and do everything possible to encourage innovative projects, like the heating and cooling system being considered for The Point.

It’s hard to overstate the positive impact of the fracking revolution and the wave of domestic energy production it unleashed across the U.S.

But in geothermal energy, we could be looking at something just as big, if not bigger, than the fracking boom — and Utah is leading the way. Let’s keep it that way.

Nevada's Lithium Leadership: Governor Lombardo Charts a Path to Economic Prosperity

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo recently wrapped up the state's second annual Lithium and Strategic Minerals Summit in Las Vegas and the message was clear: the Silver State is positioning itself as America's lithium powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs and transforming the state's economic landscape in the process.

The two-day "Elements of Change: Lithium & Strategic Minerals Forum" brought together industry leaders, government officials, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are actively shaping the future of domestic energy production. This wasn't just another government conference—it was a strategic gathering focused on turning Nevada's natural advantages into real economic opportunity.

The Nevada Advantage: America's Only Complete "Lithium Loop"

Nevada stands alone as the only state in the nation with a complete "Lithium Loop"—spanning every phase from mining and processing to battery manufacturing and recycling. This comprehensive supply chain gives Nevada a competitive edge that no other state can match.

During the summit, Governor Lombardo highlighted how the Thacker Pass lithium project—the largest known lithium deposit in North America—positions Nevada as a key player in both national and global supply chains The state's lithium resources aren't just abundant; they're strategically positioned to meet the surging demand for batteries that power everything from electric vehicles to the data centers driving America's AI revolution.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

The economic impact is already substantial and growing rapidly. A decade ago, about 100 people were employed in Nevada's battery manufacturing industry; by 2025, that number has exploded to more than 14,200 workers. Manufacturing in Nevada grew by approximately 83% from 2015 to 2025—significantly outpacing the 13% national average, with growth largely driven by the battery manufacturing industry.

Major companies have already committed to Nevada's lithium future. Tesla and Redwood Materials have invested in battery manufacturing and recycling facilities in the state, creating high-quality jobs in communities across Nevada.

Governor Lombardo emphasized lithium's importance for diversifying Nevada's tourism-heavy economy. By developing a complete domestic supply chain for this critical mineral, Nevada is reducing dependence on foreign sources while creating sustainable, well-paying careers for Nevadans.

The Rhyolite Ridge mine alone is expected to create up to 500 workers during construction and approximately 350 permanent operations jobs. These aren't temporary positions—they're building blocks for long-term economic stability in rural communities that need quality employment opportunities.

Positioning for the Future

Tom Burns, director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, noted that Nevada's unique position offering the complete "Lithium Loop"—from mining and processing to battery manufacturing and recycling—gives the state a crucial edge for attracting investment.

The timing couldn't be better. Electricity demand in the United States continues to grow, driven partly by AI data centers projected to triple their share of national electricity usage from 4.4% in 2023 to 12% by 2028, with lithium battery storage playing a critical role.

Governor Lombardo's lithium summit demonstrates exactly the kind of proactive, business-friendly leadership that drives real economic growth. By bringing together stakeholders, streamlining processes, and championing Nevada's natural advantages, the Governor is ensuring that the Silver State doesn't just participate in America's energy future—it leads it.

For Nevada families, this means more than just statistics. It means career opportunities, stronger communities, and an economy built on innovation and American resources. That's the kind of economic vision that delivers results.

Arizona Powers Forward: 5,000 MW of Diverse Energy Expansion Approved in 2025

Arizona is experiencing unprecedented energy growth, and the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is rising to meet the challenge with an ambitious "all of the above" energy strategy. In just the first eight months of 2025, the Commission has approved nearly 5,000 MW of new electricity generation capacity, demonstrating the state's commitment to energy reliability, affordability, and diversification.

Record-Breaking Energy Expansion

The numbers speak volumes about Arizona's energy ambitions. From January through August 2025, the Commission has approved several applications, and energy-related projects, which will lead to the construction of about 42 miles of new transmission lines, and the increase of the state's electricity net generation and net summer capacity by about 4,750 MW. This massive expansion includes:

• 4,550 MW of new solar generation and battery storage facilities

• 200 MW of natural gas expansion

• 42 miles of new transmission infrastructure

This infrastructure investment represents more than just numbers on a spreadsheet—it's a foundation for Arizona's economic future and energy security.

The Power of Energy Diversity

What sets Arizona apart is its commitment to energy diversity rather than putting all eggs in one basket. The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Electric Power Monthly report reveals the current diversity of Arizona's energy portfolio. The data indicates that 43% of the state's net generation in June 2025 came from natural gas, followed by nuclear at 26%, utility-scale solar at 17%, coal at 6%, hydroelectric at 5%, and wind at 3%.

This balanced approach ensures grid reliability while positioning Arizona as a clean energy leader. Notably, Arizona solar facilities produced more than twice that amount in the month of June compared to the national average of 8% for utility-scale solar generation.

Meeting Growing Demand Head-On

Arizona's rapid population and economic growth is driving unprecedented energy demand, particularly from data centers and expanding residential communities. As Chair Kevin Thompson noted, "Ushering in the next era of generation and transmission in Arizona is a challenge that is going to require cooperation from all levels of government".

The Commission's proactive approach addresses this challenge by investing in infrastructure before shortages occur. Vice Chairman Nick Myers emphasized that "Every megawatt and mile of transmission approved by the Commission represent more than growth and economic development — they represent a more reliable and resilient grid and a commitment to long-term energy security for families and businesses across the state".

Reliability When It Matters Most

Energy reliability isn't just about keeping the lights on during normal times—it's about ensuring power availability during Arizona's extreme summer heat when air conditioning becomes a matter of life and death. Commissioner Márquez Peterson highlighted this critical aspect: "The Commission continues to prioritize grid reliability in its actions to ensure that all ratepayers and especially vulnerable Arizonans have electricity especially on the hottest summer days".

This focus on reliability during peak demand periods demonstrates how Arizona's diverse energy portfolio serves both economic and public safety objectives.

Looking Ahead: Building Arizona's Energy Future

The 2025 energy expansion represents just the beginning of Arizona's energy transformation. With new nuclear technologies on the horizon, continued solar and battery storage development, and strategic natural gas investments, the state is building a resilient energy infrastructure capable of supporting continued economic growth.

The Commission's "all of the above" strategy ensures Arizona won't be dependent on any single energy source or technology. Instead, the state is creating a robust, diversified energy portfolio that can adapt to changing market conditions, weather patterns, and technological advances.

As Arizona continues to attract businesses and residents seeking economic opportunity and quality of life, the foundation being laid today through these energy investments will prove crucial to sustaining that growth for decades to come. The nearly 5,000 MW approved in 2025 isn't just about meeting today's needs—it's about powering Arizona's future.

Utah Energy Week 2025: Spotlighting Geothermal Innovation with The Western Way's Steve Handy

Utah Energy Week 2025, running September 15-18 at the  University of Utah in Salt Lake City, brought together energy leaders, policymakers, and researchers from across the nation to explore the full spectrum of energy opportunities. Among the event's standout sessions was a compelling geothermal panel moderated by Steve Handy, Utah Director for The Western Way, highlighting why Utah is positioned to lead America's next energy revolution.

A Comprehensive Energy Dialogue

Utah Energy Week 2025 created a unique platform to address critical energy needs through what organizers described as a "holistic, state-wide energy event." Hosted at the Ken Garff University Club at the Rice-Eccles Football Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah, the three-day summit featured partnerships across multiple institutions, including the University of Utah's Energy Futures Research Engine, Idaho National Laboratory, Utah State University, Utah Clean Energy, and the Utah Office of Energy Development.

The event's comprehensive approach covered advanced energy systems, grid resilience, workforce development, environmental management, and economic drivers—reflecting Utah's commitment to an "all of the above" energy strategy that balances reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship.

Geothermal Takes Center Stage

One of the event’s  sessions focused on geothermal technologies, which "offer vital energy solutions that are available around the clock with minimal environmental impact." The panel brought together leading experts to discuss rapid advancements in geothermal exploration and technology, including enhanced geothermal systems that could revolutionize how we think about renewable baseload power.

Bridging Conservative Values and Clean Energy Innovation

Moderating this discussion was Steve Handy, whose unique background makes him an ideal voice to discuss Utah's geothermal future. As Utah Director for The Western Way and a former Utah State Legislator, Handy brings decades of experience in public relations and public service to energy policy discussions. 

Handy has been a vocal advocate for geothermal energy, noting that "the energy business has never been a zero-sum game" and highlighting how "geothermal breakthroughs we are seeing in Utah, based on oil and gas sector technologies, shows this to be true." His perspective demonstrates how conservative, market-oriented solutions can drive energy innovation without sacrificing economic competitiveness.

Utah's Geothermal Advantage

The timing of this geothermal focus couldn't be more relevant. Utah is experiencing unprecedented geothermal growth, with state officials projecting more than 2,000 megawatts of additional geothermal electricity capacity could be developed—equivalent to two large-scale nuclear power plants. This potential builds on Utah's existing leadership position as one of only seven states generating electricity from geothermal resources.

The panel featured an impressive lineup of experts, including:

• Colleen Jones, Faculty & Director of the Environmental Analytical Lab at Utah State University's Bingham Research Center

• Joe Moore, Principal Investigator of the Utah FORGE Project

• Aubry DeReuil, Head of Exploration at Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals

• Travis McLing, Business Manager Directorate Fellow at Idaho National Laboratory

The Utah FORGE Connection

Central to Utah's geothermal leadership is the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), located outside Milford. This "nation's leading technology accelerator for advanced geothermal" serves as a testing ground for innovative drilling and energy extraction techniques that could unlock geothermal potential nationwide. The project exemplifies how Utah's research institutions are directly contributing to national energy security and innovation.

Innovation Rooted in Proven Technology

What makes Utah's geothermal story particularly compelling is how it leverages existing oil and gas expertise. As Handy has noted, geothermal development "involves the very same drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies that fueled a massive boom in U.S. oil and natural gas production." This technological crossover provides Utah with a skilled workforce and established supply chains ready to support geothermal expansion.

Companies like Fervo Energy are already proving this concept, having received federal permits to drill 29 geothermal wells in Beaver County with a generating capacity of 90 megawatts or more, expected to grow to 400 megawatts by 2028.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

The geothermal panel emphasized how Utah's approach delivers both economic and environmental benefits. Utah's location "along the eastern boundary of the Great Basin, a physiographic region defined geologically as having abundant geothermal heat close to the Earth's surface," provides natural advantages for developing this renewable resource that can "produce electricity 24 hours per day, seven days per week."

While Utah's current geothermal capacity stands at 73 megawatts, this represents only "0.1% of the total estimated undeveloped potential of 49,400 MW, indicating that geothermal energy resources within our borders hold practically unlimited potential to power our electricity needs well into the future."

Building Utah's Energy Future

Utah Energy Week 2025 demonstrated that the state's energy future isn't about choosing between traditional and renewable sources—it's about leveraging all available resources, technologies, and expertise to build a resilient, diverse, and economically competitive energy portfolio.  Utah is uniquely positioned to lead America's next energy revolution. Next year's Utah Energy Week will be held at approximately the same time on the campus of Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

Utah Partners with TerraPower to Explore Advanced Nuclear Reactor Sites

Utah Partners with TerraPower to Explore Advanced Nuclear Reactor Sites

Bottom Line: Utah is taking a major step toward energy independence by partnering with TerraPower to potentially build an advanced nuclear reactor in the state.

Utah's Office of Energy Development signed a groundbreaking agreement with TerraPower and Flagship Companies this week to explore sites for a next-generation Natrium® nuclear reactor. The partnership supports Governor Cox's "Operation Gigawatt" initiative, aimed at building a diverse energy ecosystem for Utah and the Western United States.

What Makes This Special

The Natrium reactor isn't your typical nuclear plant. The technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system that can boost output to 500 MW when needed - essentially acting like a giant battery that can ramp up during peak demand. Even better for water-conscious Utah, it uses significantly less water than current reactor designs.

StronG Support

The initiative has strong backing from Utah's leadership. "Today marks an important step forward for energy in Utah," said Governor Spencer J. Cox. "Operation Gigawatt is about adding capacity from diverse sources — nuclear, natural gas, geothermal and more — so families and businesses have power that is affordable, reliable and clean."

U.S. Senator John Curtis echoed this support, stating: "Utah must lead in developing energy solutions that are affordable, reliable and clean. Exploring advanced nuclear technology aligns with our commitment to energy independence and reflects the kind of forward-thinking policy our state, and nation, needs."

The Timeline and Process

The three partners plan to identify and assess sites with the goal of establishing preliminary site recommendations by the end of 2025. They'll evaluate factors including community support, site characteristics, regulatory licensing potential, and infrastructure access.

TerraPower, already broke ground on America's first commercial Natrium plant in Wyoming in 2024, proving the technology is moving from concept to reality.

Why It Matters

This partnership positions Utah as a leader in energy innovation while addressing the state's growing power needs. As Governor Cox noted, the project will help keep rates low, strengthen the grid, and ensure Utah's energy independence.

For Utah residents, this could mean more reliable, affordable electricity from a cutting-edge technology that bridges the gap between traditional nuclear power and renewable energy storage.

Arizona can't afford to leave large swaths of federal land idle

This piece from TWW’s Andy Tobin originally ran in the Arizona Republic/ AZCentral on August 12, 2025, and can be accessed here.

La Paz County is writing a playbook that many other communities across the American West can and should emulate.

Andy Tobin

• A battle is being fought to loosen red tape and blunt political activist groups that fight productive use of federal land.

• Conservative leaders aim to streamline permitting and empower local land management.

• La Paz County's Atlas Solar Project exemplifies successful collaboration for renewable energy development.

One of the biggest challenges of living in the American West is the federal government’s control over massive expanses of land.

The problem isn’t public ownership. Instead, it’s the overly bureaucratic decision-making process from federal agencies, and the constant threat of lawsuits from outside interest groups that oppose any form of development of productive use of this land.

Thankfully, however, conservative leaders in Washington, D.C., are fighting to loosen the red tape and blunt political activist groups in Western states.

The battle is being fought on two fronts. The first is broad-based permitting reform, which is being spearheaded by the Trump White House.

Trump officials are imposing deadlines and page limits for documents generated under the National Environmental Policy Act, a decades-old law that established the review process for energy projects and other forms of development on federal land.

The Trump administration is also modernizing the systems for implementing NEPA reviews, because most federal agencies “were still using outdated NEPA regulations from the 1980s,” according to a recent White House update.

The second front in the battle involves finding areas of federal land and worthy projects that would be better managed by state and local governments — and in this area, La Paz County is setting an example that other communities across the West can follow.

 For the past 10 years, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona has worked with officials in La Paz County to harness the region’s massive solar energy resources.

Rep. Gosar has pushed legislation to convey thousands of acres of federal land to the county, so that local officials could work with solar energy developers to make their projects happen.

In 2020, Rep. Gosar’s efforts resulted in the federal government handing roughly 5,900 acres of land to La Paz County for the development of the Atlas Solar Project.

Initially, the Atlas project called for 700 megawatts of solar generation and 1,000 megawatt-hours of battery storage to allow electricity generated during the day to be used at all hours of the day and night as needed. 

This would generate enough power for 105,000 homes, create 900 construction jobs and support 15 permanent jobs once the project becomes operational, according to testimony presented during a House subcommittee meeting.

This would make Atlas one of the largest projects of its kind in North America, but as the developers of the project started work, a further expansion was proposed.

The next phase of the Atlas project would add another 500 megawatts of solar power and 900 megawatt-hours of energy storage, generating 700 additional construction jobs and another 10 permanent positions at the facility.

 But to proceed, the Atlas project needs access to more land — and Rep. Gosar just took a giant step closer to making it happen.

 In July, legislation to convey another 3,400 acres of federal land to La Paz County passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Support for the legislation was so broadly bipartisan that it even passed by voice vote.

 On the House floor, Rep. Gosar explained the importance of the Atlas project and other energy investments to growing the local economy of La Paz County and supporting the wider Arizona economy.

 “Conveying the land to the county for solar maximizes the potential for renewable energy generation and unlocks employment opportunities for county residents,” Gosar said. “It is simple: energy and jobs.”

“As Arizona expands its technology and semiconductor industries, it is critical to meet the needs of our electric grid,” Gosar explained. “I believe we must take an all-of-the-above energy approach to ensure the grid’s reliability.”

The 3,400-acre conveyance still must clear the Senate and be signed into law by President Trump. But given the broad base of support that Rep. Gosar has already built in Washington, there’s good reason to believe it will happen.

La Paz County is writing a playbook that many other communities across the American West can and should emulate.

Because at a time when manufacturing investment and jobs are coming back to America, we need to maximize energy production from every feasible source to meet existing and future demand.

Simply put, we can’t afford to let our federal lands sit idle when they have so much to contribute to this next great chapter of American history.

Andy Tobin is former speaker of the Arizona House and a former member of the Arizona Corporation Commission. He is president and owner of Tobin Business Solutions LLC and director of The Western Way’s Arizona Rural Energy Network. Reach him on X at @Andy_Tobin.

Transmission and Federal Perspectives Highlight NARUC Summer Policy Summit

Transmission and Federal Perspectives Highlight NARUC Summer Policy Summit

At the 2025 NARUC Summer Policy Summit, transmission policy took center stage with regulators, utilities, and industry leaders exploring strategies to modernize and expand the grid. Sessions such as “Making Sense of the Surge: Regulatory Tools for Smarter Transmission Spending” addressed the challenge of balancing billions in new investment with cost control, featuring perspectives from state commissions, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office, and transmission planners.

The “Power Struggles: Unpacking the Challenges Facing Regional Transmission Organizations” panel examined how RTOs are managing high demand, rising costs, and reliability risks, with executives from ISO New England, Avangrid, and other key stakeholders sharing solutions for a resilient transmission network.

On the federal side, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin joined the general session for a candid discussion about national energy policy priorities, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure readiness, regulatory efficiency, and cross-sector coordination to meet future transmission needs.

With record load growth, aging infrastructure, and evolving policy goals, the Summit made clear that smart, forward-looking transmission planning remains a top priority for regulators nationwide.

FERC Chair Mark Christie with NARUC President Tricia Pridemore

The growing demand for more power

This opinion piece from TWW’s Greg Brophy first ran in The Gazette on July 24, 2025 and can be accessed here.

The growing demand for more power

Just over six months since President Donald Trump took office for a second time, the American economy is roaring back to life. This means a surge in energy demand after years of stagnation or mild growth — and the U.S. power grid is barely keeping up.

This monumental shift is driven by several factors, including the return of manufacturing jobs from overseas and the intense race against China in artificial intelligence. Meet with any business leader or energy executive and they’ll tell you we need to build more power generation to have any hope of keeping the grid stable and the lights on.

But meeting this growing demand isn’t just about building more power plants — it’s also about dramatically expanding our power transmission infrastructure. You see, even if we generate enough electricity, it’s useless if we can’t get it to where it’s needed. Think of it like a highway system for energy: you can have all the factories in the world, but without roads to move the goods, your product will never reach its customers.

The reality is, our existing transmission lines are aging. They’re barely keeping up with current levels of demand and won’t be able to cope with the new era of growth we’re entering.

Therefore, to truly support America’s economic resurgence and maintain grid stability at the same time, we need to invest heavily in building new, robust transmission lines that can efficiently and reliably deliver power from where it’s produced to homes, businesses and factories across the nation. Without this critical infrastructure, the benefits of new power generation will be severely limited, and the grid will remain vulnerable to strain and disruption.

The sheer scale of this transmission challenge is staggering, and it’s a regional issue, not just a local one. Here in Colorado, for instance, the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority estimates that we’ll need between $4.5 billion and $8 billion in investments and an upgrade of 3,700 miles of power lines to handle the surging demand.

Meanwhile, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council — the organization responsible for ensuring a stable electricity supply across 14 Western states and two Canadian provinces — is sounding alarm bells.

Over the next decade, electricity demand on the Western grid is expected to increase by more than 20% — effectively double the rate that was predicted just a few years ago. Therefore, more transmission capacity is needed to move electricity between regions of the Western grid “when one has a shortfall and the other has sufficient available energy to meet that shortfall,” the Western Electricity Coordinating Council noted in a 2024 system adequacy report.

“The ability to transfer power between regions could be a key to maintaining reliability,” the Western grid operators warned.

To be sure, Colorado is making progress to strengthen its energy backbone. A prime example is the newly opened Burlington-Lamar transmission line, a vital 112-mile, 230-kilovolt line in southeast Colorado.

This new line, along with upgrades to the Burlington and Lamar substations, significantly enhances reliability and resilience for rural electric cooperatives in the Tri-State Generation and Transmission system. It also opens the door for connecting over 700 megawatts of additional generation — a textbook case of how the nation needs power lines and power plants to meet the demands of a growing economy.

Beyond immediate upgrades, ambitious projects are also on the horizon. The proposed Three Corners Connector — also in southeast Colorado — is a transformative 300-mile, 525-kV high-voltage transmission line.

The $2 billion project would link existing electric infrastructure near Pueblo with the Oklahoma Panhandle, forging a crucial connection between the U.S. western and eastern electric grids. Besides increased reliability, the Three Corners Connector will unlock new markets for power producers in Colorado and Oklahoma.

As anyone from the Eastern plains of Colorado can attest, the business of generating electricity has become increasingly important to farmers, ranchers and rural communities. It’s a growing source of revenue — a new cash crop, if you will — but it depends on transmission lines that connect the rural communities where energy is produced to the urban areas where most of the nation’s energy is consumed.

For years, a bipartisan consensus has been building in Washington, D.C., that we need to speed up the permitting times for major transmission line projects. But rising to this challenge will also require state and local leaders to fully engage as well, not just in their own communities, but across jurisdictional lines.

This isn’t just about keeping the lights on — it’s about cementing America’s role as the world’s leading economy and being the world’s dominant energy producer well into the 21st century. That’s a goal we should be able to get behind.

Greg Brophy is a farmer and former state senator from Wray.

Curtis puts conservative, commonsense values into action in budget bill’s energy deal

This piece from TWW’s Steve Handy first ran in the Deseret News on July 10, 2025, and can be accessed here.

Opinion: Curtis puts conservative, commonsense values into action in budget bill’s energy deal

By Steve Handy

It’s safe to say that just about everything in America has become too political. But one of the most dangerous examples of this trend concerns the nation’s energy sector.

Historically, the federal government’s approach to energy was largely bipartisan. There were disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, to be sure, but both parties generally agreed that reliability and affordability of energy for households and businesses came first.

Likewise, there was broad bipartisan agreement that multi-billion dollar investments in new energy infrastructure need a stable political and regulatory environment. Volatile swings from one election to the next would just see those dollars invested in other countries instead of the United States, threatening the stability of our power grid and our overall energy security.

But during the Biden administration, something changed. President Biden approved a massive expansion of federal tax subsidies for the energy sector, including sources like wind and solar that are already cost competitive and arguably don’t need such policy support. It was designed to please the far-left base of his party, which wants to ban fossil fuels and other forms of energy they do not like — including nuclear — almost overnight.

This triggered an understandable backlash from the conservative base of the Republican party. During the election, activists demanded an immediate repeal of all the energy tax credits that were created or expanded during the Biden administration.

These demands heavily influenced the early drafts of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included an aggressive repeal of these measures and in some cases imposed new tax penalties on renewable energy projects.

But the backlash went too far. Worthy projects that are needed to keep up with rapidly growing energy demand and create thousands of construction jobs were suddenly thrown into jeopardy. Utility companies and grid operators worried the rug would be pulled out from under them.

The damage wasn’t limited to mature wind and solar technologies, either. Emerging technologies like next-generation nuclear power and advanced geothermal energy could have been decimated as well.

This could have badly hurt Utah, which is the epicenter of the nation’s advanced geothermal energy sector.

Geothermal harnesses constant and reliable heat in underground rock formations to generate electricity around the clock.

The advanced geothermal sector is also built on the same technologies and workforce as the oil and natural gas industry. Therefore, if the energy provisions of H.R. 1 went too far, it could have limited future growth and job opportunities for oilfield services companies and their workers.

A balance needed to be struck — and Utah Sen. John Curtis was there to make it happen.

Curtis pushed back against an almost immediate, across-the-board repeal of energy tax incentives that would have cost thousands of jobs and left power grid operators scrambling to keep up with rising electricity demand.

Instead, he helped broker a compromise that would immediately end tax credits for electric vehicles and phase out subsidies for large-scale wind and solar projects over the next two-and-a-half years — allowing projects that are already being built or about to enter construction to be completed in an orderly fashion.

This approach preserved tax incentives for emerging technologies like geothermal, advanced nuclear and carbon capture.

These are technologies that have not been deployed on the same scale as electric vehicles or wind and solar and therefore have a stronger case for some level of federal subsidy — especially because we are in a race against China to deploy these technologies at home and become the world’s leading supplier of these technologies in the global marketplace.

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The Curtis compromise also prevented a punitive tax on wind and solar projects and provided increased flexibility for residential solar leases, in order to preserve the rights of homeowners to generate electricity on their own properties if they so choose.

As a result, H.R. 1 was a far better piece of legislation, preserving American energy leadership while delivering permanent tax relief for working families, securing the border and strengthening the nation’s military.

No doubt, it would have been easier for Curtis to step back and stay quiet about the unintended consequences of the earlier versions of H.R. 1.

But instead, he stepped forward and showed his colleagues that the energy provisions of the bill needed more work if they wanted to produce a final piece of legislation that was worthy of President Trump’s signature.

In today’s world, that kind of conservative, commonsense lawmaking doesn’t trend on social media or get much attention from the cable news networks. But it’s the kind of lawmaking our country needs, and a prime example of the kind of constructive leadership that Utah brings to the national stage.

Steve is a former state legislator and the Utah director for The Western Way, an organization focused on market-competitive solutions to environmental and conservation challenges.

JOLT Energy Conference 2025: All-of-the-Above Solutions for Our Energy Future

TWW was proud to sponsor and attend the 2025 JOLT Energy Conference. The event brought together leaders, innovators, and policymakers to Rifle, Colorado last week for two days of robust discussion on America’s energy future. True to its “all-of-the-above” approach, the conference featured a diverse lineup of speakers covering mining, energy poverty, solar, battery storage, geothermal, nuclear, natural gas, and grid management.

A major highlight was the keynote address from Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, who emphasized balanced policies that support economic growth while advancing practical environmental solutions. Sessions ranged from mining’s role in Colorado’s economy to adding nuclear power to the energy mix, showcasing the event’s commitment to energy diversity and affordability for all communities.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon at the 2025 JOLT Conference

Panels explored training the next generation of energy workers and toured Holy Cross Energy’s solar arrays, while experts discussed deployment of technologies like unconventional coal mine methane capture and battery storage.

The JOLT Energy Conference continues to stand out as the premier gathering promoting “all-of-the-above” energy solutions to ensure America’s energy security, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity.

How a Small Colorado University Became a National Leader on Geothermal Energy

This piece form TWW’s John Karakoulakis was first published by RealClear Energy on June 25, 2025 and can be accessed here.

How a Small Colorado University Became a National Leader on Geothermal Energy

By John Karakoulakis
June 25, 2025

If you follow national energy policy, you may have noticed that geothermal technology is trending, so to speak.

Geothermal technology harnesses the constant temperature below ground – sometimes hundreds of feet deep, sometimes thousands of feet – to provide energy for heating, cooling and generating electricity.

Geothermal uses many of the same drilling and fracking techniques used in the oil and natural gas industry, and it produces energy consistently around the clock – unlike other renewable sources like wind and solar that are highly weather dependent.

This may explain why the Trump administration is paying so much attention to geothermal as part of its broader energy dominance agenda.

“This is just an awesome resource that's under our feet,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told a geothermal energy event held in Washington, D.C. in March. “Let’s work together to better energize our country, improve quality of life, drive [artificial intelligence] innovation, support manufacturing reshoring, and stop rising electricity prices.”

Make no mistake – it’s a good thing that official Washington is paying more attention to geothermal. But like most good ideas in America, it didn’t get started in D.C.

Instead, you can look to the communities of the American West, starting with Grand Junction, Colorado.

More than 15 years ago, Colorado Mesa University started a major geothermal energy program on its campus in Grand Junction. While planning the construction of Dominguez Hall, it’s first new academic building in years – CMU leaders saw an opportunity to change the way the campus met its cooling needs in the summer and its heating needs in the winter.

They identified geothermal heat pumps as the optimal solution for heating, ventilation, and cooling. Starting with a single series of boreholes, drilled to a depth of 500 feet, CMU’s geothermal energy system has expanded into four interconnected borehole fields linked by an 18-inch diameter pipe that snakes across the entire campus.

This “central loop” now serves an area of 1.2 million square feet across 16 buildings. Through Western Colorado’s hot summers and cold winters, the system effectively moves cooled air and heated air between buildings and even within individual rooms to ensure year-round comfort.

But the innovative design doesn’t stop there. When the central geothermal loop accumulates excess heat, it isn’t wasted. Instead, this surplus energy is diverted to CMU’s Olympic-sized swimming pool and the campus irrigation and domestic water systems, which together act as heat sinks.

CMU’s geothermal system now provides a staggering 90% of the energy required to operate its campus buildings. The system currently saves roughly $1.5 million per year in energy costs, and total savings since 2008 stand at almost $16 million. Those cost savings support lower tuition rates and increased scholarships for CMU students.

The CMU system is now viewed as a model, not just for other universities, but for small cities across the country that want to upgrade their cooling and heating systems with cost-saving geothermal technologies.

Another Western community that’s leading the way on geothermal is Milford, Utah.

About 12 miles northeast of town, construction is underway on the Cape Station advanced geothermal plant – a large-scale facility that will use underground heat sources to generate electricity.

Cape Station is scheduled to start sending electricity to the grid in early 2026. With a planned capacity of 500 megawatts, the facility will generate roughly half as much electricity as a large-scale nuclear reactor – making it the largest advanced geothermal project in the world.

In part, the site outside Milford was chosen because of its proximity to a major geothermal research center and the presence of transmission lines that will connect the power plant to major centers of electricity demand.

But another major factor is the region’s oil and natural gas industry, which has the supply chains and skilled workers that can also be applied to advanced geothermal energy projects.

Ronald Reagan once observed that “small towns and townships have always played a vital part in American life.” Hopefully, our current generation of leaders in Washington, D.C. will remember these wise words across a range of issues, energy included.

Governor Cox Unveils ‘Energy Superabundance’ Initiative to Power the West’s Future

At the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) annual meeting in Santa Fe, Utah Governor Spencer Cox launched an ambitious new initiative titled “Energy Superabundance: Unlocking Prosperity in the West.” Taking over as WGA Chair from New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Cox outlined his vision to address one of the greatest challenges facing the United States today: rapidly growing energy demand.

“It’s been nearly 50 years since we’ve had this kind of moment: rising demand, available capital, and the political will to build,” Governor Cox told fellow governors. “And that’s exactly what we intend to do.”

Meeting Soaring Energy Demand

The initiative comes at a critical time. Experts forecast that U.S. energy demand will rise by over 50% before 2035, driven by the proliferation of artificial intelligence data centers, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing. Cox’s campaign seeks to harness this moment by expanding energy production, modernizing outdated transmission infrastructure, and supporting advanced generation technologies, including nuclear and geothermal.

A Regional, Bipartisan Approach

One of the most striking elements of Cox’s plan is its emphasis on regional cooperation across party lines. As he noted, “When you have blue governors working on their delegation and red governors working on their delegation, we could actually get some things accomplished that haven’t been accomplished in a long time.”

The West, home to vast natural resources and innovation hubs, is uniquely positioned to lead. However, Cox and other leaders argue that outdated federal permitting processes and regulatory hurdles have stymied progress for too long. The Energy Superabundance initiative intends to push Congress for permitting reforms to unlock stalled projects and unleash a new era of American energy dominance.

Building on ‘Operation Gigawatt’

In Utah, Cox has already made energy expansion a signature priority through his “Operation Gigawatt” plan, aiming to double the state’s energy production within the next decade. This includes partnerships with Idaho and Wyoming to explore nuclear energy, the launch of a nuclear consortium, and an $8 million investment in identifying future reactor sites.

Through his WGA initiative, Cox hopes to scale these state-level successes across the West, ensuring that the region is prepared for the demands of a high-tech, electrified economy.

What’s Next

The Energy Superabundance campaign will kick off with a governors’ meeting at Idaho National Laboratory this September to explore cutting-edge nuclear research and discuss collaborative solutions. As South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden put it, “I think it’s kind of a perfect scenario to set up a public-private relationship … and get past some of the partisan politics.”

In an era of deep political divides, Cox’s initiative seeks to unite Western states behind a shared goal: building a more reliable, affordable, and secure energy future for America.

Utah’s energy costs are rising. An outdated grid is to blame.

This piece from TWW’s Steve Handy and Davis County, UT Commissioner Bob Stevenson first ran in The Salt Lake Tribune on June 5, 2025 and can be accessed here.

Voices: Utah’s energy costs are rising. An outdated grid is to blame.

The bottom line is simple: Expanding our state’s transmission system will cut energy costs, reduce outages and power our economy for the future.

By Steve Handy and Bob Stevenson | For The Salt Lake Tribune  | June 5, 2025

If your electricity bill has felt more painful lately, you’re not imagining it. Utah families have seen energy costs rise over the past 12 months, with Rocky Mountain Power announcing a rate hike of more than 18% this year alone. And while inflation and supply issues get a lot of the blame, there’s a deeper reason bills are going up — our outdated power grid.

Utah’s transmission infrastructure — like that in much of the U.S. — was built for a different era. Most of our grid was constructed more than 60 years ago, long before the rise of modern appliances, electric vehicles or massive data centers. It simply wasn’t designed for today’s energy demands — or tomorrow’s.

After remaining stagnant for decades, electricity demand is expected to rise nearly 16% across the country over the next five years, with data centers, electric vehicles and onshoring of manufacturing all fueling the surge. In fact, the West is experiencing some of the highest growth rates nationwide.

Yet as demand grows, the grid is failing to keep up. A staggering 2,600 gigawatts of energy — nearly twice the total U.S. electricity generation capacity — is currently waiting to connect to the electric grid, which lacks sufficient transmission infrastructure to carry it to homes and businesses. This includes major solar and wind projects across the Intermountain West that could lower costs for Utah families — if only we had the lines to connect them.

Furthermore, grid congestion — essentially traffic jams on the power highways — forces utilities in Utah to rely on more expensive power sources when cheaper power can’t reach us, especially during peak times like hot summer days or winter cold snaps. This happened in March, when a winter storm knocked out power to thousands of northern Utahns. These costs are then passed along to customers on their electric bills.

But there’s a solution. By expanding and modernizing the transmission grid, we can unlock affordable energy from Utah’s own vast resources and from neighboring states. This would reduce reliance on high-cost power purchases and help stabilize rates.

In fact, a recent study found that strategic transmission investment and expansion across the Western U.S. could reduce generation costs by 32%. For Utahns, this means lower bills and fewer power disruptions.

More transmission also provides better access to domestic energy, creates local jobs, and spurs economic growth in rural communities where new infrastructure is built.

But to realize these benefits, we need policymakers to act. Permitting delays and regulatory red tape have stalled key transmission projects in Utah and across the region. Projects like PacifiCorp’s Gateway South transmission line, which will carry energy from Wyoming into Utah and the broader West, faced years of delay before finally breaking ground.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox understands the importance of expanding transmission to the state’s future. Boosting transmission capacity is a central pillar of his proposed Operation Gigawatt, which aims to double the state’s power production over the next decade. More transmission capacity will ensure the reliable delivery of electricity from both traditional and renewable energy sources.

We need more momentum through initiatives like this. That means accelerating permitting reform, investing in transmission expansion and prioritizing grid improvements in state and federal policy.

The bottom line is simple: Expanding our state’s transmission system will cut energy costs, reduce outages and power our economy for the future. If we act now, we can cut energy costs for all Utahns.

Steve Handy is a former Utah legislator and state director for The Western Way.

Bob Stevenson is a Davis County Commissioner.

TWW Speaks at NACo Western Interstate Region Conference

TWW’s Greg Brophy had the chance to present at the National Association of Counties - Western Interstate Region Conference in Rapid City, SD this week.

Brophy, a farmer and rancher, from Colorado’s Eastern Plains detailed the importance of ensuring that local governments respect the private property rights of their constituents. Brophy referenced TWW’s new white-paper on solar energy development and agriculture land use to show that solar development does not pose any threat to U.S. food production.

Farmers and ranchers who think solar panels make sense on their land will install them. Farmers who don’t, won’t. Anything beyond that is a thinly veiled play for control over farmers and farming communities. Rural communities have had more than enough of that already.

Brophy also talked about the technological and fire safety standard advancements that are making Battery Energy Storage Systems a safe and reliable way to strengthen our grid and keep energy costs low.

TWW Washington D.C. Fly-in and Energy Leadership Summit

TWW was in Washington, D.C. this week meeting with leaders to talk about the importance of maintaining “All of the Above Energy”, permitting reform, and transmission infrastructure buildout at the CRES/CEN fly-in.

TWW with Colorado Congressman Gabe Evans

TWW also attended the CRES Energy Leadership Summit and heard from a variety of elected officials and energy industry leaders talking about the latest in energy policy and technological advances in the sector. The event focused on advancing American-made, all-of-the-above energy strategies to address our nation’s energy, economic and environmental security while enhancing America’s competitive edge.

Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani

Is ‘energy centrism’ taking shape in Colorado?

This piece from TWW Visiting Fellow Simon Lomax, first ran on May 1, 2025 in The Gazette and can be accessed here.

GUEST OPINION: Is ‘energy centrism’ taking shape in Colorado? 

In our two-party political system, we spend most of our time focusing on the differences between Democrats and Republicans. We expect, and often demand, that elected officials stand up to their opponents in the “other” party.

Don’t get me wrong: Principled disagreements between political opponents are a good thing. It takes real courage to face off against an opponent and debate those disagreements on the public stage.

But do you know what takes more courage than standing up to a political opponent? Standing up to your political friends.

To see that kind of courage on display, let’s review two recent moves by elected official in Colorado on a critically important issue for the country — energy policy.

The first move, by Democrats, took place at the state Capitol in Denver.

Rep. Alex Valdez, a Denver Democrat and the former CEO of a rooftop solar company, introduced a bill — HB25-1040 — to designate nuclear power as “clean energy” under state law.

Changing this definition would allow nuclear power plants to contribute to the state’s 2050 goal of 100% zero-carbon electricity, alongside renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal.

Colorado hasn’t generated electricity from a nuclear power plant in more than 35 years, after the closure of the Fort St. Vrain reactor — the state’s first and only such facility — in 1989.

However, as the state’s fleet of coal-fired power plants nears retirement, several communities have expressed interest in repowering those sites with new nuclear reactors. Those communities include Pueblo in southern Colorado and Hayden in the state’s northwest.

Besides the production of around-the-clock electricity with zero carbon emissions, nuclear supporters in Colorado point to the jobs that can be filled by former coal plant workers and the boost that new reactor projects will provide to the local tax base for schools and other essential services.

But for many environmental groups — which play a major role in the Democratic coalition — nuclear is an unacceptable option. They believe the technology isn’t safe, costs too much, and could siphon investment from other zero-carbon sources, especially wind and solar.

During public hearings, those environmental groups came out in force. Groups to testify against the bill included the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Green Latinos, Conservation Colorado and Earthjustice.

But Valdez, chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee, stood his ground. Citing expert testimony and other research, he defended nuclear’s safety record — especially the small reactors that have powered Navy vessels for 70 years and the updated small reactor designs that are now being considered for civilian use.

After the bill cleared his committee, it secured bipartisan majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly and was signed by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a fellow Democrat, at the end of March.

The second courageous move on energy policy, by Republicans, took place in Congress.

Two Colorado congressmen, Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd, joined 19 other House Republicans to defend a series of federal tax incentives for a wide range of energy technologies, including nuclear, wind, solar, carbon capture, geothermal and biofuels.

Some tax breaks have been around in various forms for many years. Others were introduced during the Biden presidency. Taken together, these tax breaks have totaled around $80 billion and spurred private sector investments worth around $500 billion, according to August data from the Rhodium Group, and have been beneficial for Colorado’s economic growth.

Even so, some conservative groups — including the influential Heritage Foundation — are demanding a full repeal.

But Evans and Hurd, whose districts are invested in producing fossil fuels and renewable energy technologies, are pushing back. In a March letter, they joined other Republicans to warn against “disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure” which could “raise energy costs for hard working Americans.”

There is room for reforming the energy tax credits, Evans and Hurd wrote, but those changes should be “conducted in a targeted and pragmatic fashion … without undoing current and future private sector investments.”

With Republicans holding a razor-thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the votes of Evans and Hurd will be important — and possibly decisive — on this issue.

Therefore, standing up to demands by their colleagues for a full repeal is not the easy choice. Far from it.

“They stuck their necks out,” Heather Reams, president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, told The Colorado Sun.

Whether you agree with the policies of Valdez, Evans or Hurd, one thing is clear about their stances on energy — they are willing to reject the political extremes, lead others towards the center and put pragmatic outcomes ahead of ideological victories.

Put another way, these three leaders are staying true to the sensible middle, which is a proud tradition in Colorado politics. Only time will tell if this brand of energy centrism — new in some ways and old in others — starts gaining ground elsewhere.

Simon Lomax is a visiting fellow with The Western Way, a conservative nonprofit that seeks pro-market solutions to environmental challenges. He is a former energy and climate reporter for Bloomberg News and a former congressional fellow with the American Political Science Association.