From Deseret News archives:
Oil-shale potential growing in Utah?
Speakers told members of two legislative interim committees the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee that oil shale could make Utah an important producer of petroleum products.
Meanwhile, other forms of alternative fuel, including nuclear power, came in for hard knocks during the meetings Wednesday.
Because of historically abundant coal resources, Utah has enjoyed inexpensive energy until now. According to Philip J. Powlick, manager of the state's energy program, the average cost of power to Utahns from generating plants already built is about 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.
In comparison, nuclear power could be far more expensive than touted, said Christopher Thomas, policy director for the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah. The nuclear industry has talked about the cost of home electricity from nuclear plants as 1.8 cents per kilowatt hour. That amount was to cover only operating costs such as fuel and maintenance, not construction expenses.
Recently, leaders of Transition Power Development, a private equity group, said they would like to build a two-unit nuclear plant somewhere in eastern Utah. It would produce 3,000 megawatts of power, they said.
"It's a huge project," Thomas said.
Allowing for economies of scale, the plant could cost between $10 billion and $15 billion, Thomas told the Deseret Morning News, and he believes the cost of home electricity generated by the plant would be more expensive than many realize.
According to Powlick, within 10 years, a new 230-megawatt plant using geothermal power could be built to provide electricity at about 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. In the long term, for Utah to have 620 megawatts of electricity from this source, the cost would rise to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, he said.
"A lot of people want to see geothermal expand very quickly," Powlick said. An advantage of generating power from rocks heated below Earth's surface is that it would work round the clock, "unlike solar or wind." Solar power units can stop generating during a rainstorm or at night, and the wind doesn't blow all the time.
Recent comments
Oil-Shale, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, expanded oil...
Sweeny | Nov. 18, 2007 at 8:55 p.m.
Oil shale development is so energy intensive, it amounts to spending...
Malthus | Nov. 15, 2007 at 8:56 p.m.
Conservation through mileage is the fastest pollution reduction...
CHARLES LONDON | Nov. 15, 2007 at 6:44 p.m.
- Bengals beat Steelers, lead AFC North 3:06 p.m.
- Johnson, Titans beats Bills 41-17 3:05 p.m.
- Bush helps Saints stay unbeaten 3:04 p.m.
- Redskins end skid with 27-17 win 2:58 p.m.
- Keys may help identify body 2:57 p.m.
- Scobee's FG lifts Jags over Jets 2:56 p.m.
- Panthers harass Ryan, beat Falcons 2:50 p.m.
- Henne helps Dolphins rally by Bucs 2:45 p.m.
- Former Ute Gross breaks right ankle 2:45 p.m.
- Lawyers earn fees from own laws 1:36 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
360 - BYU happy to escape with victory
220 - TCU creams U.
208 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
132 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - RSL heads to MLS title game
112 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Perhaps Hall isn't the greatest quarterback ever, but he is a solid...
So, I suppose we can ignore Genesis 19 that clearly states at least one other...
Let the haters talk. Go RSL!!!!
TCU is playing like the national champ. I think they are better right now...
spoutin off about the UTES loss when they ought to be "shut" for their...
To have students write on something they probably no little about does not...
When did the definition of ‘bigot’ change from prejudice...
I loved Clint's reaction to his PK after Blanco's fist pump.
... the defense gave up "only" 48 points (pick six in 2nd qtr). Another 14...
The reason BYU is still ranked after two beatings at home is because they...
