Utah Geological Survey
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Utah's Energy Landscape

Did you know that Utah has the third lowest price for home-heating natural gas in the nation and Utah is one of only five states that generates electricity from geothermal sources? Utah also enjoys the second lowest industrial electricity rate in the nation.

These are just some of the interesting facts found in the Utah Geological Survey’s (UGS) newly updated Utah’s Energy Landscape – a booklet designed to assist people in becoming more familiar with Utah’s diverse energy portfolio.

“With energy use and development at the forefront of many citizens’ minds, we thought it would be important for us to update this booklet, providing valuable, balanced energy information for the state of Utah,” said Mike Vanden Berg, UGS geologist.

Other interesting facts: in 2010, the majority of energy produced in Utah was from natural gas, surpassing coal for the first time in history and Utah has been a net-exporter of energy since 1980.

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Utah Geological Survey

New Geologic Hazard Maps for the Western Salt Lake Valley and Magna Areas

New geologic hazard maps of western Salt Lake Valley have just been released by the Utah Geological Survey (UGS). The 10 maps include the town of Magna and portions of Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Kearns, and West Jordan to the south.

“This area is expected to experience a significant population increase in the next several decades. As urbanization expands into areas less suited for development, geo hazards become of increasing concern in the planning, design, and construction of new facilities,” says Jessica Castleton, a UGS geologist.

The ten maps show the hazards of earthquakes, landslides and rock falls, floods, indoor radon, shallow groundwater, and problem soil and rock. Historically, flooding has been the most widespread and frequent hazard in the area. Landslides and rock falls will be of increasing concern as development moves into hill slope areas. And, earthquake hazards (mainly ground shaking, liquefaction, and surface fault rupture) have the potential for producing catastrophic property damage, economic disruption, and loss of life.

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