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USU Eastern warns limited housing stock could displace locals as energy and mine jobs arrive
Summary
Doug Miller of USU Eastern told the Emery County Council of Governments the region has roughly 1,100 short‑term and RV units and very few long‑term homes available; he urged immediate zoning and developer partnerships to avoid displacement as incoming Valor Atomic and Fossil Rock hires increase demand.
Doug Miller, a researcher with the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University Eastern, presented a regional housing study to the Emery County Council of Governments, saying Carbon and Emery counties together have roughly 951 hotel/motel rooms and 115 RV slips—about 1,100 short‑term units in total—and that effective availability is lower once condition and location are considered.
Miller said hotel and RV operators report about 70% utilization over time, and active home listings are small: about 107 homes in Carbon County and 18 in Emery County. He said moderate in‑migration tied to local projects could rapidly remove available units and push median prices higher from the current median of about $298,000. "Even a modest inflow of 140 to 190 new jobs will put pressure on our housing inventory and could displace long‑term residents," Miller said.
Miller framed two planning scenarios. Under "no action," he said, limited inventory and rising buyer competition would drive vacancy rates to near zero, raise rents and home prices, and force long‑term locals to leave. Under a proactive scenario, he urged immediate zoning updates, expansion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), mid‑density market‑rate developments, and building partnerships with developers to de‑risk projects; he said those efforts would take multiple years to yield new supply.
He cited examples from nearby communities, reported that Valor Atomic expects to hire roughly 40 people for a 12‑month test period, and that Fossil Rock Mine anticipates 300–400 positions with maybe 100–150 new permanent residents coming from outside the region. Miller recommended the counties begin developing developer relationships now and consider using local gap funding or revolving loan funds to make early projects viable.
The council and town representatives asked about the role of short‑term rentals and hotels; Miller noted Emery County has very limited suitable hotel inventory, which is pushing demand onto high‑cost short‑term rentals. He concluded that planning, zoning reform and incentives to attract or derisk developers are necessary to prevent displacement.
The council did not take any formal action on the recommendations; Miller offered to present study findings at a future meeting and to coordinate with local housing groups and economic development staff.
