[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5984686,"mediaKeyId","5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f","parentId",5761330,"title","State officials say Intermountain Power Station will be kept operational as ownership options advance","audioSeconds",775,"startMs",59000,"endMs",834000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f&start=59&end=834","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f/thumbnail_59000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5984686/Utah/State-officials-say-Intermountain-Power-Station-will-be-kept-operational-as-ownership-options-advance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984686-c0b62635d22fb194ca2f8d1a5560d8b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496173&Signature=h8Btdz6sZsT-Of5XbYSiHzGhYR61FpJn-A7pY-RLus5djUjL3WDRbO6UpOG1Z7bVTToPG1FTPXIxGgy33tjhWx~5FOLh~HE0DhpDC7vPE2pGBgIAfCMaUPER6A6DEShPePE8-VfPrzQrEyrATQEUnQGNH16nDpkj3706hSRq6L7-Qnj4MXSesP5vlVJKdcD2uwuApNY-ImxcX9MVMU-G9U0RmNfNB2AKkFlGytw0XSVDm23xR0M-h28tMB0n7-J6gYRz3IEyXKQCEW-7bq-hiRMKvPFThboXzRgLI1wSlvfOfZK3bYJP-xQECA18bE8ZLy43ZihC6oDMyvmTj8xyfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah Legislature","date","2025-09-16T00:00:00Z","article","SALT LAKE CITY — State officials told the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee that the Intermountain Power Plant in Millard County will remain operational while the state examines options to acquire and repurpose the facility. Joel Ferry, executive director at the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and Bryce Byrd, director of the Division of Air Quality, described ongoing negotiations, a two‑year option agreement and an air‑permit review tied to future fuel conversions.

Ferry said the state and Intermountain Power Authority have an option agreement in place and that ‘‘during this 2 year period of option, IPP has agreed to maintain the units,’’ meaning the coal units remain functional and produce power now being delivered to California. He said the state’s Energy Council, managed through the Office of Energy Development, is working on strategic oversight should the state acquire the plant and that HB 70 establishes part of the statutory framework for the option and acquisition process.

Why it matters: the plant supplies large amounts of generation, supports jobs in rural Millard County and is being considered as a bridge source while Utah develops alternative generation, storage and transmission to meet growing electricity demand from data centers, electrification and other load growth.

Byrd described the air‑permit process for the plant. He said Intermountain Power Authority submitted a revised permit application in April and that the division completed technical review in June and issued a proposed permit for public comment in July, closing Aug. 18. ‘‘We’re now reviewing those comments,’’ Byrd said, adding the Division of Air Quality and the attorney general’s office are preparing responses and that the division expects to issue the final permit in the near term under its existing authority and the federal Clean Air Act. Byrd also noted that, as with other permitting actions, an administrative appeal is possible and agency staff are preparing the administrative record to support any review.

Committee chairs said the state remains in negotiations over contract terms and asked committee members to direct detailed questions to the agency leadership outside the hearing because of the ‘‘sensitive nature’’ of those negotiations. Committee leadership also emphasized the plant’s economic role in Millard County and the goal of preserving roughly 1,900 megawatts of capacity ‘‘as a bridge to the future,’’ Ferry said.

During the hearing members described other opportunities around the site and region — including hydrogen storage in existing salt caverns, geothermal potential and interest in nuclear and other advanced technologies — but committee members and agency representatives distinguished those as separate development conversations that would require additional approvals, financing and permitting.

No formal committee action was taken on IPP at this hearing; members were briefed and invited to seek follow‑up briefings from agency officials.

Looking ahead: Agency officials said the permit decision and any subsequent appeals will determine the near‑term regulatory path for continued operation and for future conversion of units. Ferry said interested private parties may continue to contact the Office of Energy Development and the Department of Natural Resources as the state evaluates operations and procurement options.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee - September 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","State officials told the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee that the Intermountain Power Plant will remain operational while the state evaluates an option to acquire and repurpose the facility.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5984670,"Committee makes drinking water cybersecurity bill a committee measure after briefing on recent attacks",4646,1851000,6497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f&start=1851&end=6497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f/thumbnail_1851000.jpg","/articles/5984670/Utah/Committee-makes-drinking-water-cybersecurity-bill-a-committee-measure-after-briefing-on-recent-attacks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984670-2b20a05b5a1d099b56a5c63598475888/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496173&Signature=m3Qev0mEsYh~AjOak7GnaG4mynabh5NUyug53u0IpsZr283f9iyWWL46CwM5BxabT0WQYqgx~wWx3PyRUqED8m4TMht6RM22L6GL4EUls5M6BK~398HUiUOfEYEJfHewmNo-MjTAeSFFgWynKUo6E3PlhTHFqgWNPFnETfuHjA4wvJObLbLBVJkKPbhWyr2WzaNzWAdS6hnDU~dIKdTtlgWUALXZSym56KZjW8dAGcOKrB~tz3T~as3ze1dLCqZ-DOCi1zh2BvTxaRbHjiNL07grOWDvQxMWMcF9LFq06eybMp1LMFUnEeAQFAqBmwdrfMuGOM0OroU6jE7R3E4s3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers moved to make a drinking water cybersecurity bill a committee measure after a presentation from Representative Andrew Jack and Nathan Lundstedt, director of the Division of Drinking Water, who described local breaches and the need for faster reporting and coordinated response.

Representative Jack said the bill requires community water systems to have cybersecurity and emergency response plans and to report cyber breaches to state authorities so the state can marshal resources to help recovery. He told the committee the bill synchronizes population thresholds used elsewhere in code and adds statutory reporting requirements tied to the division’s emergency response responsibilities.

Director Lundstedt told the committee ‘‘many of our water systems are being attacked every day’’ and described examples that include a small Emery County system whose operators did not report a cyber incident quickly enough to recover funds, and a larger system that was locked out, forcing manual operations and affecting city services. Lundstedt said faster reporting gives the FBI, state cyber center and the Division of Drinking Water a better chance to stop attacks and recover funds and data.

Why it matters: water systems perform safety‑critical treatment and financial functions; agency witnesses said attacks can lock operators out of control systems, change operational parameters or disrupt billing and other administrative systems. When controls are lost, agencies said, systems must often operate manually but may lack staff and procedures to do so for sustained periods.

Representative Albrecht moved to make the drinking water cybersecurity measure a committee bill; the motion passed unanimously on voice vote. Committee chairs said the bill will be pursued as a committee measure for further drafting and public consideration.

The Division of Drinking Water said the bill includes a two‑hour breach reporting requirement and that the division has coordinated with the state cyber center to ensure incidents are simultaneously reported to federal and state responders. Lundstedt said the division will use reports to share lessons learned and help other systems prepare. The committee concluded with the bill advanced as a committee measure.","Representative Jack presented a bill requiring water system cyber plans and two‑hour breach reporting; the division of drinking water described recent local and national incidents and said faster reporting helps recovery and response; the committee voted to make the measure a committee bill.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5984674,"47gs outlines Utah’s aerospace and defense growth, cites opportunities in air mobility, space and critical minerals",427,747000,1174000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f&start=747&end=1174","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f/thumbnail_747000.jpg","/articles/5984674/Utah/47gs-outlines-Utahs-aerospace-and-defense-growth-cites-opportunities-in-air-mobility-space-and-critical-minerals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984674-7f846ec16966992b0452adf008f72983/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496173&Signature=E-fkO6H6XhsDmDqIfZk65Cmilhi7OcPXNp9h-372S8zDiAxNdGonorKYJn6ZBgy0-1xkIK7WS0NSWEFA4BqBNnt93IGghNQQ54fgeMAaCN3gsngmmSfbn9-ryHGXZB42jc5pSuEZXwJF-RVkJk59MYhRropZetxH39b90SLSbp1wbIFF2G9SqIl7~A2igmNnPFjQU1S0KdD5zRI0mraSir1JFWBSRz9N4lgnHNZwa41fVIagUmbET7VQ~r5rOhBMtCJThZNpJFUlfxvc-VbdEAhxK7CFvXKW8kEd~x2yiF6qXj9VpDkIKnyz3n5tnz2kVdr~YexUgnI9yqvqVK6sAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — Aaron Stark, chief executive of 47gs, briefed the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee on efforts to grow Utah’s aerospace, defense and space ecosystem, highlighting advanced manufacturing, air mobility and critical minerals as priorities for economic development and national security.

Stark said the sector accounts for roughly 20% of Utah’s economic output and emphasized that recent state policy and investments have created momentum for manufacturing, satellite work, advanced materials and workforce development. He described partnerships across industry and higher education, including research parks and university programs focused on high‑temperature materials and satellite systems.

Why it matters: Stark told committee members that advanced manufacturing and space‑related technologies create higher‑paying jobs and supply chains that intersect with state energy and infrastructure policy. He said Utah hosts critical minerals needed for defense and advanced electronics and that federal agencies have signaled spending and policy incentives for domestic production.

47gs leadership described plans to convene major defense contractors, local manufacturers and universities, noting support from state appropriations earlier in 2022 and partnerships with the Weber State research park and other institutions. Stark said 47gs will steward initiatives on critical minerals, advanced air mobility and space manufacturing, and he encouraged continued legislative support to scale testing, workforce training and private investment.

The committee thanked 47gs for the update and recognized that energy availability, workforce development and infrastructure are central to expanding the aerospace and defense cluster in Utah. The briefing was informational; no committee action was taken.","47gs told the committee that aerospace, defense and space now account for a large portion of Utah’s economy and described efforts to convene industry, universities and federal partners to accelerate manufacturing, advanced materials, critical minerals and air mobility initiatives.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5984680,"Private developer outlines 11,000‑acre ‘Valley Forge’ energy city with generation, storage and transmission plans",1961,1743000,3704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f&start=1743&end=3704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f/thumbnail_1743000.jpg","/articles/5984680/Utah/Private-developer-outlines-11000acre-Valley-Forge-energy-city-with-generation-storage-and-transmission-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984680-e1c13f7c7360c980b64c72fb057217ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496173&Signature=oiXD0tactEDd9316byXgfYDH~VfmMpNs6JbQhwPwpQLmKWmskvPMPi0klWI5odOlzcPzOHYjCQ9mh30TpL8dFHBKCG7GYFUMjGa~Rydhro6iqL7lnQ~SbB9TuyS9TRcSycKtRJBCM-6cdV~iUk8L3o3IUW-lJZjcMtTfMTQlQKHznkDoh~bq5IE6~0rf1yMZycPi~cKULEyUuWO8MqZR8XQsiMhzLzrqR9kDd~~6S39pahxXBXyd3-NoYwG5e7A9cnILB9KU5AkP8W0LkUr~Sz~08p7oCVWBx2hj2FB44rk6kQMVCZykw6CfhwWoxftxfRsgnoEEabQLA9TneczqZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — Representatives of Invictus Sovereign presented a large‑scale proposal to the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee for ‘‘Valley Forge,’’ a master‑planned energy community in central Utah that the company said would combine power generation, long‑duration storage, transmission and advanced manufacturing over roughly 11,000 acres.

Wayne Aston, chief executive of Invictus Sovereign, described the project footprint and economic rationale and said the SentinelOne power complex will include combined‑cycle gas, steam turbines and reciprocating engines that are ‘‘all of them hydrogen capable in the future.’’ Aston said the company has executed an order with Westinghouse for a 2‑gigawatt long‑duration energy storage system and that the company is in commercial discussions with Westinghouse on deploying additional nuclear technology, including AP1000 reactors and smaller modular units as they become licensed.

Why it matters: Invictus described the project as aiming to supply multi‑gigawatt capacity to meet fast‑growing demand from data centers and other large users while supporting local housing, agricultural modernization and manufacturing. The proposal also includes a proposed 765‑kilovolt transmission backbone the developer says would harden and expand the corridor to support higher loads and create redundancy with the Intermountain Power Plant.

Aston said the company has assembled roughly 11,000 acres about 10 miles south of Fillmore with dark fiber along the I‑15 corridor and dual 36‑inch natural gas transmission line frontage. He outlined a water‑management plan that the company said could include aquifer reinjection, water reclamation and harvesting and that — under the firm’s modeling — could produce a multi‑year aquifer surplus within about 13–14 years through conservation and recharge measures. Aston said the site sits in Air Shed Zone 2 and that Westinghouse is developing a more water‑efficient AP1000 design that could reduce cooling water needs.

Aston described Westinghouse’s pumped‑thermal (solid‑state) storage technology as able to provide ‘‘200 to 300 hours’’ of storage on large deployments and said Westinghouse is contracted for a 2‑gigawatt, long‑duration system for Valley Forge. He also described existing Memoranda of Understanding with small modular reactor developers and said Invictus expects potential manufacturing and fuels fabrication roles on site if advanced nuclear is permitted and financed.

On transmission, Invictus said it has Quanta Services under consideration as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for a proposed 765 kV line connecting Valley Forge with the Mona Clover station and potentially looping to the Intermountain Power Plant to create redundancy and resilience. Aston said the company is pursuing right‑of‑way strategies that leverage existing corridors and federal categorical exclusions where appropriate.

Committee members asked about aquifer monitoring, traffic and construction impacts, timeline and pushback. Aston said the project would phase in over decades, that the company has spent more than $12 million assembling land to date, and that the developer has discussed the proposal with Millard County commissioners and local officials. He said construction would generate notable truck traffic during build‑out and that the company plans localized batch plants and an I‑15 interchange to manage flows.

Invictus representatives and committee members repeatedly characterized Valley Forge as complementary rather than competitive with the Intermountain Power Plant, noting hydrogen storage infrastructure and pipeline access as potential points of coordination.

The presentation was informational; no committee action was taken. Members thanked the presenters and invited follow‑up briefings on technical, water and transmission details.","Invictus Sovereign told the committee it has assembled roughly 11,000 acres in central Utah and proposes a master‑planned community that combines power generation (gas and hydrogen‑capable units), long‑duration storage from Westinghouse, potential nuclear deployment, a 765 kV transmission backbone, water‑management measures and data center and 제조",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5984683,"Office of Energy Development says K–12 energy education reached 20,000 students; advisory group advancing teacher resources",572,1025000,1597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f&start=1025&end=1597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761330-0d6800c67987fb115cea235a1c65a40f/thumbnail_1025000.jpg","/articles/5984683/Utah/Office-of-Energy-Development-says-K12-energy-education-reached-20000-students-advisory-group-advancing-teacher-resources","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984683-992e2520faa7e1aacec16e1ac665b1d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496173&Signature=kgch2ayE9mRpDutO3oubjjPz9X8iO9Ao4XaJrIcj-Zy4ATgv9Enr3VIDtUWNE8Okk7IZD7hgM8vmrVWt21mElSkX7AW5TxK6hQ~AlDNLlZY2ihgcjj7rXme5v~AfezHrvtRR0dS~C7xzL0a4Q94zb0sd5aysDm4FHnE~NiTz5poMTNWLvMqVqRqTpSNzIY9toD3uuky3OENSduJ71i7qCTAxMVOmQu7pilSze-Hz4X-lY36q7iNyzejvlZqYN54ruIU8esl0dgBznKTp1ShgcTAzFvMOoBw-ECyzbLpt8oNMqFsj9SE5LzyQbX-Bf7PhDJSfRqnZtV5Lay8mBbNTkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Office of Energy Development told the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee that work to expand K–12 energy education is increasing statewide and that the advisory group created by HB 157 has started turning outreach into classroom resources.

Mary Parkinson, education specialist at the Office of Energy Development, said the advisory group has met monthly since May 2025 and includes members from industry and education, including representatives from the Utah State Board of Education and the Utah Science Teaching Association. Parkinson said ‘‘OED has reached 20,000 students’’ since September 2024, quadruple the prior year’s reach, and that the office expects additional participation at STEM Fest events.

Why it matters: committee members said energy literacy is important for workforce development and longer‑term planning as the state’s energy sector grows. Parkinson said students in grades K–12 often do not understand where electricity comes from and that the advisory group’s work aims to create pathways into energy careers.

Parkinson outlined several near‑term initiatives: revising about 45 lessons for grades 4–12 to better align with state standards and to add educator background and accommodations; piloting educator ‘‘checkout kits’’ that schools or districts could borrow at no cost; organizing educator field visits to energy facilities to earn relicensure credits and connect professional development to on‑site experience; offering virtual field trips and an interactive map showing Utah energy sites; and expanding outreach with STEM support specialists embedded at events and labs such as the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab.

Representative Albrecht asked Parkinson to rank the program’s success on a 1–10 scale; Parkinson replied, ‘‘I think I would give it a 9 in success,’’ and stressed ongoing efforts to expand rural outreach to counties including Emory, Cache, Duchesne and Vernal.

Parkinson told the committee that barriers remain: some hands‑on lessons can be cost‑prohibitive for underfunded schools, professional development does not yet reach as many teachers as desired, and some curricula assume educator familiarity with energy topics. The advisory group plans to pilot resources and move to quarterly meetings in 2026 while reporting progress back to the committee.

No formal committee action was taken on the report; committee members thanked OED for the progress update and urged continued statewide outreach.","The Office of Energy Development reported to the committee that the advisory group created by HB157 has met monthly and expanded outreach; OED highlighted curriculum revisions, educator checkout kits and planned field trips for teachers to connect classroom lessons with local energy sites.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State officials say Intermountain Power Station will be kept operational as ownership options advance

Committee makes drinking water cybersecurity bill a committee measure after briefing on recent attacks

47gs outlines Utah’s aerospace and defense growth, cites opportunities in air mobility, space and critical minerals

Private developer outlines 11,000‑acre ‘Valley Forge’ energy city with generation, storage and transmission plans

Office of Energy Development says K–12 energy education reached 20,000 students; advisory group advancing teacher resources