Utah urged to create transmission authority and state siting process

A recent Western Governors’ Association report flags transmission as a bottleneck for the West’s power growth, and experts say Utah should act now with its own authority and siting board.

The Western Governors’ Association’s new “Energy Superabundance” plan warns that transmission constraints could cripple the West’s ability to satisfy surging electricity needs driven by population growth and industrial expansion. Utah, pursuing projects like Operation Gigawatt, must address not only generation but also the delivery of power to end users. To accelerate grid upgrades, the report recommends federal reforms, yet the authors argue the state need not wait for Washington.

They suggest establishing a Utah Transmission Authority to tap federal funds, private capital, and public-private partnerships for critical lines, and granting the Utah Public Service Commission authority to review and site projects that meet statewide criteria, while still involving local governments. Such a dual approach aims to speed delivery of new energy resources without sidelining community concerns. Implementing these tools would align Utah’s regulatory framework with its ambitious energy development goals.