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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill authorizes a study of geothermal energy.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission to conduct a study
13 regarding geothermal energy and report the results to the Public Utilities, Energy,
14 and Technology Interim Committee.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 63N-1a-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 200, 362
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23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 63N-1a-202 is amended to read:
25 63N-1a-202. Commission duties.
26 (1) The commission shall:
27 (a) develop, coordinate, and lead a comprehensive statewide economic development
28 strategy that:
29 (i) unifies and coordinates economic development efforts in the state;
30 (ii) includes key performance indicators for long-term progress toward the state
31 strategic goals;
32 (iii) establishes reporting and accountability processes for the key performance
33 indicators; and
34 (iv) ensures the success of the statewide economic development strategy is shared
35 among the urban and rural areas of the state;
36 (b) receive feedback, input, and reports from economic opportunity agencies regarding
37 programs related to the statewide economic development strategy;
38 (c) develop the statewide economic strategy in view of the state water policy described
39 in Section 73-1-21, including the state's commitment to appropriate conservation, efficient and
40 optimal use of water resources, infrastructure development and improvement, optimal
41 agricultural use, water quality, reasonable access to recreational activities, effective wastewater
42 treatment, and protecting and restoring healthy ecosystems;
43 (d) direct and facilitate changes to or recommend elimination of economic
44 development programs to ensure alignment with the mission and vision described in Section
45 63N-1a-103;
46 (e) at least once every five years, identify which industries or groups of industries shall
47 be targeted for economic development in the state;
48 (f) establish strategies for the recruitment and retention of targeted industries while
49 respecting the different needs of rural and urban areas throughout the state;
50 (g) establish strategies for supporting entrepreneurship and small business development
51 in the state;
52 (h) analyze the state's projected long-term population and economic growth and plan
53 for the anticipated impacts of the projected growth in a manner that improves quality of life
54 and is consistent with the statewide economic development strategy and state strategic goals;
55 (i) identify gaps and potential solutions related to improving infrastructure, especially
56 as related to the state's projected long-term population growth;
57 (j) support the development of a prepared workforce that can support targeted
58 industries identified by the commission;
59 (k) coordinate and develop strategies that assist education providers and industry to
60 cooperate in supporting students in developing market relevant skills to meet industry needs;
61 (l) develop strategies and plans to ensure comprehensive economic development efforts
62 are targeted to the unique needs of rural areas of the state;
63 (m) study the unique needs of multicultural communities throughout the state and
64 develop household-level plans to ensure residents of the state can participate in economic
65 opportunities in the state;
66 (n) ensure the commission's efforts are, to the extent practicable, data-driven and
67 evidence-based;
68 (o) support an integrated international trade strategy for the state;
69 (p) facilitate coordination among public, private, and nonprofit economic opportunity
70 agencies; [
71 (q) in performing the commission's duties, consider the recommendations of the
72 subcommittees described in Chapter 1b, Commission Subcommittees, the GO Utah board, the
73 talent board, and any working groups established under Subsection (2)[
74 (r) conduct a study on accelerating geothermal energy development in the state
75 covering geological assessments, costs and data needs, workforce readiness, regulatory issues,
76 electric utility integration, available incentives, and recommendations for additional incentives
77 and integration.
78 (2) The commission may establish working groups as is deemed appropriate to assist
79 and advise the commission on specified topics or issues related to the commission's duties.
80 (3) The commission shall provide a report to the office for inclusion in the office's
81 annual written report described in Section 63N-1a-306, that includes:
82 (a) the statewide economic development strategy;
83 (b) a description of how the commission fulfilled the commission's statutory purposes
84 and duties during the year, including any relevant findings;
85 (c) the key performance indicators included in the statewide economic development
86 strategy, including data showing the extent to which the indicators are being met; and
87 (d) any legislative recommendations.
88 (4) The commission shall provide a report to the Public Utilities, Energy, and
89 Technology Interim Committee on or before November 30, 2024, providing the results of the
90 study conducted under Subsection (1)(r).
91 Section 2. Effective date.
92 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.