On October 8, 2024, Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox shared Operation Gigawatt, an initiative to double the state’s power production within the next decade, at the One Utah Summit. [1] The governor believes that the plan will place Utah in a position to lead the country in energy development while remaining a net energy exporter and diversifying energy resources. Utah is facing the same energy crisis that the world is experiencing due to a growing population, emerging industries like artificial intelligence, increased electrification of vehicles, and retirement of baseload capacity for reliable electricity. The initiative aims to close the gap between energy supply and demand while protecting Utah’s natural resources. Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Joel Ferry also views the plan as an opportunity to lead the country in energy development, starting with investment in current resources while pursuing new ones. Operation Gigawatt is composed of four main goals: increasing transmission capacity, expanding and developing more energy production, enhancing Utah’s policies, and investing in Utah innovation and research.

[1] https://naturalresources.utah.gov/dnr-newsfeed/gov-cox-unveils-operation-gigawatt/