S.J.R. 10

1

ALTERNATIVE TRAINING CENTER JOINT
2 RESOLUTION
3 2009 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Dennis E. Stowell
6 House Sponsor: Michael E. Noel
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature supports establishing an Alternative Energy
11 Training Center in Beaver County, Utah.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . expresses support for the development of an Alternative Energy Training Center in
15 Beaver County.
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
18
19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
20 WHEREAS, the United States relies heavily on foreign sources of energy;
21 WHEREAS, to sustain economic growth in the state and throughout the nation, it will
22 be necessary to invest resources in all forms of power generation, including traditional sources
23 such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear as well as renewable resources such as geothermal, wind,
24 and solar;
25 WHEREAS, the Utah Renewable Energy Zones Task Force Phase I Report indicates
26 that theoretical potential resources within Utah include 16,500 fifty megawatt solar renewable
27 energy zones, 51 wind renewable energy zones with a combined generating capacity of

28 approximately 9,145 megawatts, and a total of 2,166 megawatts of geothermal development
29 potential, the bulk of which is located in rural Utah;
30 WHEREAS, with the Blundell Geothermal Plant, the newly commissioned Thermo Hot
31 Springs Plant, and the more than 200 megawatt First Wind Project which is currently being
32 developed, Beaver County has either under construction or in production close to 300
33 megawatts of renewable resource generating capacity, and many of the state's most significant
34 undeveloped resources converge in Beaver County;
35 WHEREAS, as renewable generation becomes more widespread in the region, there
36 will be a need to provide training opportunities to people working in that industry;
37 WHEREAS, the Milford High School Technology Department has played a key role in
38 attracting investment in renewable energy generation to the Southwest region of the state and
39 has led the way in preparing young people for promising careers in that industry;
40 WHEREAS, the Southwest Area Technical College in Cedar City is offering classes
41 related to renewable energy in Milford;
42 WHEREAS, Milford is an ideal site for a certified renewable energy training center
43 because it has a core of leaders who are willing to make the region the center of renewable
44 energy generation in the state and are prepared to meet any energy goal the state sets;
45 WHEREAS, as resource development expands, production of the components of solar
46 generation, wind turbines, and similar equipment also provides opportunities for new and
47 expanded manufacturing businesses in rural Utah where economic development is desperately
48 needed and will increase the need for trained workers;
49 WHEREAS, the construction of utility scale renewable energy projects provides
50 unprecedented economic development opportunities for counties lacking traditional energy
51 producing resources; and
52 WHEREAS, providing a training center in Utah for renewable energy resource
53 technologies and jobs will enable Utahns to better compete for these new energy resource jobs:
54 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
55 expresses its support for the development and certification of an Alternative Energy Training
56 Center in Beaver County.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Beaver
58 County Commission, the Milford High School Technology Department, Utah's Energy

59 Advisor, the State Energy Program, the Southwest Area Technical College, Rocky Mountain
60 Power, First Wind, Raser Technologies, and to the members of Utah's congressional
61 delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-28-09 9:46 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel