The utah office of energy development (OED) undertakes a comprehensive strategy to secure a sustainable and prosperous energy future for utah

Central to this is program management, ensuring efficient administration and oversight while fostering key partnerships, notably through the national association of state energy officials (naseo), to shape regional energy policy. OED leads statewide planning for responsible resource development and drives sustainable growth through initiatives like operation gigawatt, accelerating energy deployment. Collaboration is paramount, engaging stakeholders in working groups and supporting rural infrastructure investment and optimized utility resource planning. A critical focus is energy security, emergency management, and resilience, aiming to safeguard public safety during emergencies. OED collaborates with public and private partners to enhance emergency preparedness, focusing on grid stability, infrastructure integrity, and fuel availability. Key activities include refining utah's state energy security plan (sesp) for gubernatorial approval by september 2025, strengthening ties with the division of emergency management, and participating in national emergency response development. OED also prioritizes federal training and bolstering cybersecurity awareness within the energy sector. Recognizing the importance of an informed populace, education and outreach efforts cultivate energy understanding across sectors. OED supports curriculum development, provides teacher professional development, and guides the energy education and workforce development advisory group. Internships, scholarships, and community events like stem fests broaden public engagement. To meet evolving energy demands, workforce development initiatives cultivate a skilled workforce, aligning with operation gigawatt's goals. OED participates in career fairs, collaborates with high schools, and promotes energy careers at stem events. The advanced transportation and fuels program promotes diverse transportation solutions and alternative fuels through collaboration with agencies and nonprofits. This includes participating in committees, prioritizing workforce development, providing EV maintenance training grants, supporting infrastructure development, and administering the rural EV grant program. Guiding utah's energy trajectory is policy and planning, where OED provides expert input, engages in comprehensive state energy planning (emphasizing a diverse portfolio including nuclear and geothermal), collaborates with stakeholders, monitors emerging trends, facilitates strategy implementation, and supports the nuclear energy consortium. Finally, economic development is driven through energy efficiency. OED supports industrial energy audits via the university of utah, promotes efficiency training (including building codes), and administers the c-pace program, fostering economic growth through responsible energy practices. Through these interconnected initiatives, OED strives to build a resilient, sustainable, and economically vibrant energy future for utah.