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Board reviews Weber State MBA housing study and a deeper EGI/U of U tax‑base analysis
Summary
Board members reviewed a Weber State student study focused on housing impacts and discussed a deeper Energy Geoscience Institute/University of Utah study that compares tax‑base and employment outcomes of solar, manufacturing and nuclear scenarios; members agreed to invite EGI to present when the tax‑base work is complete.
The board reviewed two economic studies that assess consequences of different development scenarios for Emery County.
A Weber State MBA student project (coordinated by Doug Miller) emphasized housing and short‑term lodging impacts tied to large projects; board members noted demand for motel rooms with kitchenettes for longer‑term workers could be repurposed for tourism later. Members said the Weber State work is useful for mayors and local planning because it highlights where cities should prepare infrastructure and policy to accommodate population growth.
Separately, members discussed a more comprehensive analysis by the Energy Geoscience Institute (EGI) at the University of Utah that compares tax‑base and labor impacts across scenarios — solar build‑out, advanced manufacturing, and a nuclear power plant. A board summary of early EGI findings indicated that, under certain advanced manufacturing scenarios, the county could still experience a net job loss relative to current employment tied to the local power plant; by contrast, a nuclear scenario could add net jobs (one example discussed was an approximate 1,200‑job net gain for a nuclear plant scenario versus net losses under some manufacturing scenarios). Members asked EGI to complete the tax‑base comparison and present to the CEO board and the Council of Governments (COG) in May.
Board members said the EGI study — which draws on economists and multiple U of U departments — is a deeper, more comprehensive analysis than the Weber State MBA project and will better inform county strategy for diversification, infrastructure planning and tax planning.
What happens next: staff will invite EGI for a board presentation once the institute completes its tax‑base work; the Weber State slides will be circulated to all board members for additional local review.
