State office creates energy coordinator

The Governor's Office of Economic Development has added an energy and natural resources cluster director to work with companies and associations in the energy industry, to foster growth in that industry and to encourage workforce development.

Samantha Mary Julian's position will be funded by GOED and the State Energy Program using state funds and federal stimulus money.

Julian previously was business development manager for the Economic Development Corp. of Utah, where she helped corporate executives who were considering expanding or relocating their companies to Utah.

Laws enacted this year call for incentives to attract to Utah companies that manufacture renewable energy products and for the creation of the Utah Generated Renewable Energy Electricity Network Authority (UGREEN) to oversee and develop transmission corridors for the energy created from renewable energy production sites to get that energy to consumers.

GOED also is working with the Utah Department of Workforce Services and representatives from higher education and the Utah Science Technology and Research program to develop training grants and distribute funds to foster workforce development and innovation in the industry.