This Issue Contains:
ksl.com
If you’re thinking about replacing that old water heater, clothes washer or other appliance, now is a good time to think about doing that. Starting May 12, the Utah State Energy Program has more than $2 million available for rebates on energy-saving appliances.
This is part of the federal economic stimulus program, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, that has been going on for the past couple of years. This one operates similar to Cash for Clunkers — the program that helped remove old vehicles off the road. Now we have Cash for Appliances.
The federal government is distributing $300 million in all 50 states to urge people to replace older, energy-eating appliances.
RELATED LINKS
Salt Lake Tribune
First, there was Cash for Clunkers. Now, there’s Cash for Appliances.
States have been given $300 million in federal stimulus money to create rebate programs that encourage consumers to make energy-efficient appliance upgrades.
Utah’s $2.3 million portion is going toward a Cash for Appliances program that starts Wednesday and will provide rebates of $30 to $300 to those who purchase energy-efficient washers, room air conditioners, water heaters or furnaces. Each state’s program is different, with various rebate amounts covering different items.
Although some other states are offering rebates on purchases of a longer list of appliances, including refrigerators and dishwashers, Utah officials say they wanted to hone in on a more select group of power-gobbling appliances.
“We’re focusing on where most of the energy is used in the home,” said Chris Tallackson, incentives coordinator with the Utah State Energy Program.
RELATED LINKS
Did you know that Utah Has been a net exporter of energy since 1980? That Utah has the second-lowest price for home heating via natural gas production in 2008 reached an all time high of $2.7 billion?
These are just a few of the facts detailed in a new publication, “Utah’s Energy Landscape,” from the Utah Geological Survey. Michael Vanden Berg, project geologist, said the 41-pages publication provides details bars, graphs, and breakdowns of Utah’s energy resources and is the result of months of comprehensive data gathering.
“This is the first time we’ve put all of this information together in one sources,” he said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while.”
KSL.com
Paleontologists are excavating intact bones of a meat-eating dinosaur in central Utah.
The find, made in late November, was announced Monday by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the College of Eastern Utah’s Prehistoric Museum.
The museum’s field and laboratory manager, John Bird, says the site east of Castle Dale includes more than 20 vertebrae that are attached to one another. He believes they are from an allosaurus, a fairly common find in Utah from the Jurassic period.
IN THE MEDIA
Salt Lake Tribune
Utahns who want to tap the sun and wind for energy might be eligible for cash rebates of up to nearly $5,000.
The money — which Utahns now can apply for — would come from the state’s share of the federal stimulus aimed at renewable energy.
It would be available to households, small businesses and nonprofit groups that install solar photovoltaic, solar thermal or wind-energy systems, Chris Tallackson, incentives coordinator for the Utah Geological Survey’s State Energy Program, said Monday.
“This program will stimulate employment in grid-tied renewable-energy construction,” he said, “and increase distributed renewable-energy capacity.”
Rebates also will be available for energy-efficient appliances purchased and installed starting May 12.
Reports from the East Coast said that states began offering the rebates at the end of last week, but by Monday they were all taken. That’s because those states allowed residents to reserve the rebates before they actually bought the appliances or installed the systems, Tallackson said.
*Notes:
1. Renewable energy rebate maximums are as follows:
__ _ ___ _ ____ _ Residential Commercial
Solar Photovoltaic $8,750 $50,000
Solar Thermal $2,500 $10,000
Wind $4,800 $4,800
2. Appliance rebate
Applications for rebates will be mailed-in by the consumer after purchasing an eligible appliance. There will not be a reservation process for appliance rebates. Rebates will be paid on a first received, first processed basis until funds are exhausted.
IN THE MEDIA
A new cash rebate incentive program for solar and wind energy systems begins today. The Utah State Energy Program (USEP) announced applications are now available for Utah residents, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations interested in generating renewable energy. The rebate amounts cover approximately 25 percent of the cost of a typical residential system.
“This program will stimulate employment in grid-tied renewable energy construction and increase distributed renewable energy capacity,” said Chris Tallackson, Incentives Coordinator.
READ MORE
RELATED LINKS
Deseret News
Folks waiting to buy a furnace or a water heater might want to hold out a little longer. But if, like Glen Jensen, you’re in need of a dishwasher, go for it.
Utah has finally announced the start date for and published the list of items for which it will offer rebates as part of the Utah State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.
The state has nearly $2.35 million in federal stimulus money to help people exchange energy-hog appliances for more-efficient models.
Salt Lake Tribune
It wasn’t The Big One, but Thursday’s earthquake did enough shaking to make northern Utah take notice.
A 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit five miles northeast of Randolph at 5:59 p.m. Thursday, according to the University of Utah Seismograph Stations.
The shaking at the Rich County Sheriff’s Office in Randolph knocked down pictures, but did not generate reports of injuries or damages, said dispatcher Russ Handley.
At the Randolph Sinclair station, there was a loud rumble and some bottles tipped over, said manager Tammy Hoffman.
“It kind of shook people up, but some people who were driving [at the time] didn’t even know it happened,” she said.
A 4.9 is a “light” earthquake, according to Kristine Pankow, associate director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations. It wouldn’t be enough to knock people over, but people would feel it, she said. However, it was the largest quake since 1992, she said. On average, Utah gets an earthquake of about magnitude 5 every 10 years, but this one waited 18.
“I guess it was just time,” she said.
IN THE MEDIA
KSL.com
Deseret News
StarValleyIndependent.com
EARTHQUAKE RESOURCES
Utah Seismic Safety Commission
Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country
Utah Geological Survey
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
ksl.com
Gov. Gary Herbert has designated April 4-10 as Earthquake Preparedness Week.
A website provides tips on what to do in preparation for an earthquake and its aftermath.
The Utah Seismic Safety Commission says about 700 earthquakes, including aftershocks, occur every year in Utah.
Roughly 80 percent of the state’s population would be affected by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on the Salt Lake City segment of the Wasatch Fault.
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Several specialized programs comprise the UGS: Data Management, Energy & Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Information & Outreach, Geologic Mapping, Groundwater & Wetlands, and Paleontology.
1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
801-537-3300 (phone)
801-537-3400 (fax)
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 146100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
