This story appears in the July 2025 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
Utah’s natural beauty and abundant resources are central to the state’s identity and economy, and as we continue to grow, managing these resources with wise stewardship is more important than ever. The Salt Lake Chamber advocated for policies during the 2025 Legislative Session to address this responsibility, and has also incorporated natural resource management into their plan for Utah’s future through Utah Rising: A Free Enterprise Vision for Utah’s Future. Part of the Utah Rising plan is a focus on sustainable development and resource management, emphasizing energy efficiency, water conservation and air quality. As we set ambitious targets that align economic development with environmental stewardship, we are not only preparing for a more sustainable future but also creating opportunities for innovation, investment and long-term resilience across Utah’s communities.
A vision for Utah’s energy future
Utah Rising’s strategic focus on natural resources is in line with the comprehensive energy strategy outlined in the Salt Lake Chamber’s and Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s “Business Vision for Utah’s Energy Future.” The overarching goal is to create a sustainable energy landscape that ensures affordability and reliability while promoting environmental responsibility. This vision aligns with Utah Rising’s broader objective of being wise stewards of natural resources, an effort that extends beyond energy to include water conservation and air quality improvement.
An all-of-the-above energy strategy
Utah Rising’s approach to energy is comprehensive, embracing an all-of-the-above strategy that prioritizes diverse energy sources to maintain reliability and affordability while reducing environmental impact. Key components of this strategy include:
- Utility-scale solar: Leveraging Utah’s abundant sunshine to generate renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Gas conversion: Developing and utilizing methods for the conversion of resources into sustainable sources of natural gas, such as renewable natural gas.
- Advanced modular nuclear: Exploring next-generation nuclear technology that offers scalable, lower-risk alternatives to traditional nuclear power.
- Critical minerals consortium: Establishing a consortium to manage and optimize critical minerals essential for energy infrastructure, such as those used in solar panels and battery storage systems.
This diversified strategy reflects our focus on immediate and long-term solutions, ensuring the state can meet growing energy demands and stay sustainable.
Collaboration as a driving force
Achieving the goals set forth by Utah Rising requires strong collaboration between the business community, government and residents. The Salt Lake Chamber’s vision for energy and natural resource management exemplifies how coordinated efforts can create impactful, forward-thinking strategies that balance economic development and environmental preservation.
By uniting stakeholders around common goals, Utah Rising positions the state as a leader in sustainable resource management — a strategy that benefits businesses, residents and future generations alike. The next decade will be crucial in defining Utah’s natural resource legacy, and Utah Rising is laying the groundwork for a prosperous and sustainable future.
