Porcupine Ridge, which is located northeast of Coalville and approximately five miles west of the Utah/Wyoming border, has become a sign of hope for many Utah residents. Wyoming, our eastern neighbor has been using wind energy for some time now. This is something that Utahans are beginning to look into.

In the report put out by the U.S. Department of Energy, due to the interest of the communities of Park City and Summit County, we see that Utah is very capable of utilizing it's natural renewable resources and adding to a sagging economy with property taxes and other revenues. Wind factor for wind energy to be a viable prospect requires a minimum speed of 12 mph measured at 20 meters. Porcupine Ridge is approximately 13.75 mph measured at 20 meters, that appears to peak between 10 am and 9:00 p.m. Local spending for the project could be 18.8 million dollars during construction. There are also actual spending costs as well as annual costs in upkeep. However, when all is said and done, this project could bring in 31.1 million dollars in economic impacts for the state, according to the report.

34 million dollars has been allocated to Utah in Federal stimulus package money. During the 2009 legislative session, lawmakers set aside 9.6 million dollars each year to provide incentives for businesses dealing in renewable energy; these funds are to attempt to bring companies here to Utah, for relocation and expansion.

"There are two categories we work to track and advocate, renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency," Said Kevin Emerson, Senior Policy and Regulatory Associate for Utah Clean Energy. Utah has three types of renewable energy, according to Mr. Emerson. These are wind, solar and geothermal energy. Not all states have these resources. What is being encouraged first, is energy efficiency, with such things as refurbishing older homes to be more energy efficient and building new homes to be energy efficient, with better windows, more efficient appliances as well as positioning the homes better to use renewable resources, this also includes commercial buildings as well as residential buildings. Also there is much planning going on right now as the stimulus starts to filter in the next two to three years. Utility companies are looking to expand and are in the planning stages with that, for fields in residential and commercial building.

Education in certain fields, may help people in finding employment in the future for building as well as upkeep of new systems, this if of value to today's students in the job market. Such jobs as energy consultants, which know how to use software to predict how buildings use energy, are in short supply in this state, Utah has not taken advantage of people doing this job, up-to-date. There will need to be inspections and audits in ratings in building new buildings and in older buildings. Programs are actually being developed right now, due to the stimulus money, firms are being contracted in anticipation. Much preparation is going to be going on in the next few months that will only be the beginning for what is coming in the next two to three years.

According to a 2006 ASES report renewable energy is an up and coming new industry. The numbers are hopeful, to possibly help us out of a recession. "The results of our research are impressive in 2006, the combined RE (Renewable Energy) & EE (energy efficiency) generated nearly a trillion dollars in industry sales, 8.5 million new jobs, more than 100 billion in industry profits, and more than 150 billion in increased federal, state and local government tax revenues. In addition, RE&EE reduce the risks associated with fuel price volatility and can facilitate an industrial boom, create millions of jobs, foster new technology, revitalize the manufacturing sector, enhance grown, and help reduce the trade and budget deficits." According to the 2006 ASES report written by Roger Bezdek, as the principal Investigator.

According to the 2006 report, the job market for Renewable Energy, required jobs in different fields, from Accountants to environmental engineers. There is a list of 36 jobs in a table, which have everything from welders, to electricians and truck drivers. The website to see this report and others like it is: http://utahcleanenergy.org/

At this website, you can also see the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Summary of Clean Energy Stimulus Funds, with information about what funds are coming, what they are being spent on and the budget and other informative information. There is hope for us in Utah, there is hope for our budget and there may just be a light at the end of the tunnel.

For students looking for skills to use in the future for employment and for those going back to school to learn new trades and training to be more marketable, SLCC has many resources for employment that will be in demand in the upcoming changes. Academic advising can help you with information for training and academics for the following vocations as well as others:

Architectural Technology
Architecture
Biology
CAD and Computer Graphics
CAD/CAM Engineering Technology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Chemistry/Physical Science
Civil/Environmental Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Drafting
Electrical Engineering
Engineering
Engineering Design/Drafting Technology
Environmental Geology
Environmental Technology
Fitness Technician
Geographic Information Science Technology (GIST)
Geography
Geology
Geosciences
Machining Technology
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Physics
Structural/Civil Design
Surveying