Utah’s Thom Carter, Energy Adviser to Governor Spencer Cox, recently authored a piece for the Deseret News which highlighted why the so called “keep it in the ground” concept is not a serious energy policy for Utah or our country. Carter makes the case for the importance of utilizing all of our energy resources while cleaning up emissions.
Mr. Carter is right in pointing out how Utah’s abundance of natural resources from fossil fuels and critical minerals to geothermal and other renewable sources has allowed the state to benefit from “affordable, reliable, diverse and durable energy.”
Mr. Carter also hits on the critical contribution that Utah’s mining industry makes to advanced energy solutions. When extremists argue to “keep it in the ground” they do not understand the complexities of our modern economy.
How do you turn solar energy into solar power and wind energy into wind power? Honestly, through critical minerals. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, there are 35 mineral commodities that are used in the creation of solar panels. These minerals “transform the sun’s energy into electricity.” Both aluminum and rare-earth elements help turn wind into wind power in the development of wind turbines. Batteries and battery storage are key to the long-term success of renewable energy because they allow the power generated by wind and solar to be stored. This transformative technology relies on cobalt, graphite, lithium and manganese.
Utah’s common sense “all of the above” energy strategy is a prime example of how states can build their economies while balancing environmental concerns.
Read Mr. Carter’s full piece here.