Carbon County Commissioner candidate Cheryl Lupo hosted a “Meet the Candidate” event on Wednesday morning at Balance Rock Eatery in Helper. At the event, Lupo hosted Dr. Laura Nelson, who serves as Governor Gary Herbert’s Energy Policy Adviser as well as the executive director of the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED). Nelson spoke on behalf of the energy and coal industry and was able to address the questions and concerns of those in attendance.
One of Lupo’s focuses in her candidacy is the power of coal in Carbon County. She was available to answer questions from the public and address her goals if she is elected to hold a seat as commissioner. Lupo explained that she supports a big future for coal in Carbon County, believing that the county’s success rests entirely within itself. This includes the production and utilization of coal, the need for more revenue and the use of tax incentives for existing businesses.
Nelson has been proactive in defining and supporting balanced and sustainable energy solutions, including providing congressional testimony, participating in regional collaborations, and working with counties and cities on behalf of the energy industry. Dr. Nelson has over 20 years of experience working on energy and natural resource issues in both the public and private sectors.
During her presentation on Wednesday, Nelson addressed the concern of coal in Carbon County. As more energy resources become available, there appears to be less room for coal. “We’re not exactly moving away from coal, to say,” explained Nelson. “We are appreciating it by advancing operations, such as utilizing coal’s carbon fibers.”
Although 66% of electricity production is contributed to coal, Utah ranks 10th in the U.S. for natural gas production, 11th for oil and 14th for coal. Because coal is still a big contributor, the OED is still researching ways to utilize coal. “We have to be specific and deliberate in the research and development in the utilization of the coal we have today,” said Nelson. “We need to look to the future and create opportunities with coal for future generations.”
As a part of the energy policy that Governor Herbert introduced in 2011, a focus to educate school-aged children about coal and energy in the state of Utah has been emphasized. Through energy.utah.gov, an online platform has been created to assist in education, including nine prepared lesson plans and six videos, all of which are fact based about how to utilize and develop resources.
