Latest news with #Utahns
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Fire up the AC: Sweltering US sets new electricity consumption record
President Donald Trump has made driving down energy prices a key part of his administration's initiatives. Americans cranking up their air conditioners, fans and swamp coolers over a single hour in late July consumed more electricity than ever before as sweltering heat spread from the Midwest to the East Coast. The federal Energy Information Administration said that from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern on July 28, Americans consumed 758,149 megawatt-hours of electricity – a new national record. And while the numbers are subject to change, the EIA said on July 29, Americans might consume even more power. An average American home consumes about 10,791 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, meaning the energy consumed on July 28 would be enough to power a single house for 70,000 years. The demand for electricity came as large, heavily populated parts of the United States suffered under high heat that could linger until the weekend. All that power came from a mix of sources, although natural gas remains the backbone of our electricity supply, providing 45% of the total, according to the EIA. Coal is the next-largest source, at 17%, while nuclear represented 13%. Solar accounted for 11%, while wind and hydropower each provided 5%. The previous hourly demand record for the continental United States was 745,020 megawatt-hours on July 15, 2024, the EIA said. The United States has been consuming more electricity per person as an increasing number of homes have air conditioners, along with demands from AI computer centers. The EIA noted that electricity consumption had been relatively flat from 2010 to 2020 as increased efficiency offset population growth, but demand has been rising since then. President Donald Trump has made driving down energy prices a key part of his administration's initiatives, and has called for significant increases in natural gas and oil drilling, along with the expansion of coal-fired power plants. His administration has proposed relaxing emission standards for coal-fired power plants, which could potentially lower generating costs. Where you live in the United States plays a significant role in how much you pay for electricity: On average, Utahns pay the lowest electric bills, at about $95 a month, whereas, in Connecticut, the average monthly bill is $218, according to a Texas-based electricity broker.
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Fire up the AC: Sweltering US. sets new electricity consumption record
President Donald Trump has made driving down energy prices a key part of his administration's initiatives. Americans cranking up their air conditioners, fans and swamp coolers over a single hour in late July consumed more electricity than ever before as sweltering heat spread from the Midwest to the East Coast. The federal Energy Information Administration said that from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern on July 28, Americans consumed 758,149 megawatt-hours of electricity – a new national record. And while the numbers are subject to change, the EIA said on July 29, Americans might consume even more power. An average American home consumes about 10,791 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, meaning the energy consumed on July 28 would be enough to power a single house for 70,000 years. The demand for electricity came as large, heavily populated parts of the United States suffered under high heat that could linger until the weekend. All that power came from a mix of sources, although natural gas remains the backbone of our electricity supply, providing 45% of the total, according to the EIA. Coal is the next-largest source, at 17%, while nuclear represented 13%. Solar accounted for 11%, while wind and hydropower each provided 5%. The previous hourly demand record for the continental United States was 745,020 megawatt-hours on July 15, 2024, the EIA said. The United States has been consuming more electricity per person as an increasing number of homes have air conditioners, along with demands from AI computer centers. The EIA noted that electricity consumption had been relatively flat from 2010 to 2020 as increased efficiency offset population growth, but demand has been rising since then. President Donald Trump has made driving down energy prices a key part of his administration's initiatives, and has called for significant increases in natural gas and oil drilling, along with the expansion of coal-fired power plants. His administration has proposed relaxing emission standards for coal-fired power plants, which could potentially lower generating costs. Where you live in the United States plays a significant role in how much you pay for electricity: On average, Utahns pay the lowest electric bills, at about $95 a month, whereas, in Connecticut, the average monthly bill is $218, according to a Texas-based electricity broker.
Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Salt Lake City named USDA hub in federal reshuffling
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving most of its employees from Washington, D.C., to five hubs, including Salt Lake City. Why it matters: Shifting operations to Utah's capital could give the state's farmers and ranchers more access to federal officials — and potentially shape policies that better serve the Mountain West. The big picture: The move, announced Thursday by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, will close nearly all USDA offices in D.C. It is part of the Trump administration's effort to cut costs and consolidate the federal government. The other agriculture hubs include: Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis; and Fort Collins, Colorado. Despite the relocation, USDA has maintained that its critical functions "will continue uninterrupted," according to a news release. Reality check: While Utah's cost of living is lower than D.C.'s, it still has one of the nation's most expensive housing markets. Salt Lake City's federal salary locality rate is about 17%. Zoom in: Utah's farmland totaled about 10.5 million acres in 2023 — one-fifth of the state's total land area, according to the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Utah ranks 25th among U.S. states for total farmland. What they're saying: Utah Republican leaders, including Gov. Spencer Cox and U.S. Sen. John Curtis, celebrated Rollins' Thursday announcement. "The USDA's decision to refocus on its core mission, supporting farmers, families, and rural communities, is long overdue," Curtis posted on X. "Utahns are the best at advocating for and advancing American agriculture." The other side: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) called the decision a "half-baked proposal," warning it could affect the USDA's "ability to provide critical services for Americans" and farmers.
The Hill
18-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hill
Utah governor warns wildfires are worse than last year — and most are human-caused
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) warned this week that his state is enduring one of the most active fire seasons in recent memory — and that humans have been responsible for most of the blazes. 'We're seeing exactly the kind of extreme fire behavior we hoped that we would not but warned was very likely,' Cox said during his monthly news conference, aired Thursday on PBS Utah. The governor expressed distress at the fact that 72 percent of the multiple wildfires raging across Utah this season have been caused by humans. The fires, fueled by strong winds and hot, dry weather, have scorched thousands of acres statewide, he noted. For example, Cox described a 'firenado' that was 'strong enough to flip heavy equipment, rip roofs off and spread flames unpredictably' stemming from the 15,000-acre Deer Creek Fire south of Moab. He also detailed similarly catastrophic blazes in Sevier County in Central Utah, near St. George in the southwestern corner of the state and an almost 35,000-acre incident near Bryce Canyon National Park. While acknowledging that the total number of wildfires this year is similar to those last year — 571 versus 576 — Cox stressed that 'conditions on the ground are worse, and fires are behaving very differently.' Last year, he explained, the soil contained much more moisture, creating a buffer that helped moderate fire activity. Two consecutive winters of robust snowpack also amplified the growth of grasses and brush that are now fueling the fires, the governor added. 'The tinder-dry landscape means every spark has a greater chance of becoming a large and fast-moving wildfire,' he said. Cox appealed to fellow Utahns to use common sense and avoid activities like abandoning campfires or going target shooting in dry brush. He also emphasized the importance of cutting back brush around forest cabins, to create a defensible space. The governor recognized a history of both mismanagement and lack of management on some forest lands, while noting that 'bad decisions' over the past few decades are not solely responsible for the crises that have occurred. 'Climate change is part of that, for sure,' Cox said. 'But whether you believe the climate is changing because it's human caused or not, it is changing, and we've got to adapt to that.' One of the major ways Utah and other states across the U.S. West are adapting, he explained is by treating forests with prescribed burns — a process that has led to a noticeable reduction in fuels a decrease in damage done. 'The good news is that we are doing more, and I want to give credit to both the Trump administration and the Biden administration, who realized years ago that that we needed to do more,' Cox said. Yet as wildfires continue to wreak havoc across the state, the governor noted 'an uptick in water use' and that reservoir levels plunged 10 percent during June — five times more than average for this time of year. Although reservoirs are at 77 percent capacity, slightly above normal at this point, these storage sites 'are being depleted at an above average rate,' he warned. 'It's OK to have yellow lawns this year,' Cox said. 'We give you permission not to keep them up and keep them green.' Recognizing a June declaration he had made for a statewide day of prayer and fasting for rain, the governor — a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — emphasized that prayer alone would not be enough. 'While we need faith and prayers, we also need people to cut back on their usage,' Cox added.
Axios
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Salt Lake City drivers report crashes about every 9 years, data shows
Salt Lake City drivers go an average of 9.2 years between reported collisions, according to Allstate claims data. Why it matters: The findings put a little quantitative weight behind some people's strongly held beliefs about the quality — or lack thereof — of their neighbors' driving skills. By the numbers: Nationally, drivers go 10.6 years between crashes. The big picture: Salt Lakers' lag behind the national average is surprising when you consider that Utahns consistently rank among the worst and most aggressive drivers in the U.S. How it works: Allstate's report is based on 2022-2023 claims data and defines collisions as incidents resulting in property or collision damage claims. That means minor fender benders that go unreported — as common in city driving as potholes and work zones — aren't captured here. The findings are based on where drivers live, not necessarily where incidents happen.
