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Board recommends county explore hiring energy lobbyist to improve outreach to Pacific Corp and developers
Summary
Board members expressed concern Emery County is not "at the table" on energy projects; they recommended commissioners consider hiring an energy lobbyist (one estimate cited: $60,000/year for two counties) and signaled willingness to offset costs.
Board members raised repeated concerns that Emery County has not been included in key state and industry conversations about energy projects and that stronger advocacy is needed. Brock Johansson described meeting with John Cox, a former Pacific Corp regulatory executive who now consults on energy matters, and said Cox "said he'd take Carbon and Emery County on" for an estimated $60,000 a year to represent two counties.
Members discussed steps the county could take (hiring staff vs. contractors, using an economic development director, or contracting a lobbyist) and agreed to recommend the county commission pursue exploratory discussions with John Cox and others. Brock moved that the board recommend hiring an energy lobbyist and indicated the board would be willing to use some of its funds to help offset costs; the motion passed by voice vote.
