Solar Power
Solar Power can become an important part of Utah's energy policy. More energy is consumed by Utahnss during the day than at night -- so capturing solar energy serves to reduce the peak energy requirements placed on fossil fuel burning power plants, namely coal. By installing solar energy, the least efficient electrical power plant (typically older, high polluting coal or oil-fired) generation is replaced by a generation that has $0.00 variable cost. As a result, pollution is reduced because the least efficient plants aren't used as frequently, and electricity prices are reduced for the same reason!
The cost of generating electricity from solar cells currently exceeds the cost of generating electricity from coal or natural gas, as well as from wind or biomass. This doesn't mean that solar cells should be ignored, however. Because solar cells help to reduce peaks, they can serve as an effective way to reduce the number of power plants that are only being used for a few hours a day, thereby reducing sprawl and smokestacks. Furthermore, the price of sunshine will always be $0.00, thereby helping to insulate the price of electricity from rises in the price of coal. Investing in solar cell research as well as installations of solar cell fields in Utah and other sunny states will result in a more stable and cleaner electrical system that generates electricity at a lower price than fossil fuels.
