Trust Lands official outlines solar-lease process, cites fiduciary duty to schools

Andy Benningfield, Managing Director of Energy and Minerals for the Utah Trust Lands Administration, told the Emery County Public Lands Council on March 3 that TLA manages roughly 3.3 million acres held in trust to benefit public schools and that the agency is self-funded through leases of mineral rights and surface uses, including oil, gas and renewable energy projects.

Benningfield said the agency’s approval process for solar leases includes internal review, external environmental and legal checks, public notifications, and outreach to adjacent landowners. He described a recent Cedar Mountain lease that was canceled after community concerns and said some projects were relocated to more suitable areas following that feedback.

Council members and attendees pressed TLA staff on environmental concerns, including water runoff management, weed control after construction, and monitoring and end-of-life handling for lithium batteries used in solar installations. Benningfield acknowledged those concerns and described monitoring and lease conditions intended to limit environmental impacts, while reiterating TLA’s fiduciary responsibility to maximize returns for school beneficiaries.

Why this matters: TLA’s dual mandate—to generate revenue for schools while managing environmental and community impacts—places local stakeholders in frequent coordination with state lease decisions. Council members said they want clearer, earlier notification and opportunities for local input on future solar lease proposals.

What’s next: The council and TLA agreed to continue dialogue; citizens raised requests for more formal environmental assessments before leases are finalized.