| Members Present: Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Chair Rep. Colin W. Jack, Chair Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Karen Kwan Sen. Ann Millner Sen. Scott D. Sandall Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Walt Brooks Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Kay J. Christofferson Rep. Rosalba Dominguez Rep. Doug Owens | Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck Rep. Thomas W. Peterson Rep. Troy Shelley Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Christine F. Watkins Members Absent: Rep. Casey Snider Staff Present: Samantha Merrell, Policy Analyst Scott Elder, Associate General Counsel Zoe Adams, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Owens called the meeting to order at 01:35 p.m. |
| 1.Committee Business 1:15 1:30PM |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to approve the minutes from the 2025 interim meetings.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. W. Brooks Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Kwan Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. N. Peck Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp | Rep. S. Chew Rep. R. Dominguez Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Peterson Rep. T. Shelley Rep. C. Snider Rep. C. Watkins |
| MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved that the committee give the chairs authority to open committee bill files. |
| SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Christofferson moved that the committee needs to be notified when chairs open committee bill files.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 12-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Kwan Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. N. Peck Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp | Rep. R. Dominguez Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Peterson Rep. T. Shelley Rep. C. Snider Rep. C. Watkins |
| 2.2026 General Session Overview 1:30 - 1:40PM |
| 2 - GS2026 PUET Legislation Overview May 2026 (Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel) |
| Samantha Merrell, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, presented the 2026 General Session Overview and answered committee questions. |
| 3.Interim Study Item Discussion 1:40 1:50PM |
| 3 - Proposed 2026 Interim Study Items List (OLRGC) |
| Rep. Jack gave an overview of the interim study item list. |
| The committee discussed the 2026 interim study item list. |
| MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to adopt the revised interim study item list. The committee discussed the amended list, during which data centers were added under potential energy producers, and the natural gas rate study was introduced as a new item.The motion passed with a vote of 14-1-3. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Kwan Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. N. Peck Sen. S. Sandall Rep. T. Shelley Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Sen. D. Hinkins | Rep. R. Dominguez Rep. T. Peterson Rep. C. Snider |
| 4.Zanskar Introduction 1:50 2:10PM |
| 4 - Zanskar PUET Presentation (Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals) |
| Carl Hoiland, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals, presented information on geothermal energy resources. |
| Ryan McGraw, Chief Development Officer, Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals, presented information on geothermal energy resources and answered committee questions. |
| 5.Large-load Contract Application Process Update 2:40 3:00PM |
| Thom Carter, Vice President of Government Affairs at Rocky Mountain Power, provided a brief introduction on their ongoing efforts related to large loads and engagement with potential data center customers. Thom Carter introduced Craig Eller, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Customer Experience at Rocky Mountain Power. |
| Craig Eller gave an update on users that have submitted a large-scale service request to Rocky Mountain Power per the process established in S.B. 132 "Electric Utility Amendments" (2025 General Session) and answered committee questions. |
| 6.Update on Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus Request for Information 2:10 2:30PM |
| Jake Garfield, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Development, provided an update on the Office of Energy Development application to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus in the state and answered committee questions. |
| 7.Sunset Review: Nuclear Energy Consortium 2:30 2:40PM |
| 6 - Nuclear Energy Consortium Sunset Review (OLRGC) |
| 6 - Sunset Review Statutory Guidelines (OLRGC) |
| Samantha Merrell presented a brief review of the Nuclear Energy Consortium. |
| Chair Owens informed the committee he has opened a bill file to repeal the sunset date for the consortium. |
| 8.A Performance Audit of Drinking Water Cybersecurity 3:00 3:25PM |
| 8 - Drinking Water Cybersecurity Presentation PUET Committee (Legislative Auditor General) |
| Jesse Martinson, Audit Manager, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, presented on the performance audit of drinking water cybersecurity and answered committee questions. |
| Chris McClelland, Audit Supervisor, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, presented on the risk of cyber attacks on drinking water infrastructure and answered committee questions. |
| Tim Davis, Executive Director, Department of Environmental Quality, gave a report on the audit. |
| Michelle Deras, Assistant Director, Division of Drinking Water, responded to committee questions. |
| 9.Valar Atomics Update 3:25 3:45PM |
| 9 - Valar Atomics Presentation Material (Valar Atomics) |
| Isaiah Taylor, CEO and Founder, Valar Atomics, provided an update on their work building a new small modular nuclear reactor and answered committee questions. |
| 10.Adjourn 3:45PM |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 15-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 15 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. R. Dominguez Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Kwan Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. N. Peck Rep. T. Peterson Rep. T. Shelley Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Sen. A. Millner Sen. S. Sandall Rep. C. Snider |
| Chair Owens adjourned the meeting at 3:49 p.m. |