Utah Talks Climate

Energy storage is a game-changer for tackling climate change. It reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and supports a resilient energy infrastructure. Utah Talks Climate meets with Tyler Hortin, CEO of Lion Energy to talk about how energy storage is revolutionizing the way we make and use energy. By storing excess energy from renewable sources like solar and wind, battery storage ensures a reliable supply of clean energy even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. Advancements in battery storage technology are accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral future!

During Utah Clean Energy's annual Party for Clean Power, we recognized two local leaders with our Climate Champion Awards. In this episode, hear the inspiring speeches from the 2023 Climate Champion awardees, Scott Anderson, CEO of Zions Banks, and Reverend Dr. Oscar T. Moses of Calvary Baptist Church. A. Scott AndersonA master of quiet influence, A. Scott Anderson, President and CEO of Zions Bank, stands as an exemplar of leadership in both the financial sector and community service. His distinctive approach has led to tangible and enduring impacts on numerous causes. As a founding signatory of the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact, Anderson galvanized a new wave of climate leaders in Utah.  Through thoughtful engagement, he empowers others to join the movement, propelling Utah toward national leadership in climate action. Further, he and Zions Bank Corporation have led the way by building their  Technology Campus to be near net zero and invested in the University of Utah’s climate prize.“We all have a role to play in turning the tide on climate change. I’m confident that Utahns can come together to find common-sense solutions to our climate challenges. After all, this is an issue that affects all of us, and I’m proud to be a part of the solution,” states Scott Anderson, President and CEO of Zions Bank. The Reverend Dr. Oscar T. MosesUnder the guidance of Reverend Dr. Oscar T. Moses, Calvary Baptist Church has emerged as a beacon of environmental stewardship. Moses spearheaded the transformation of the church into an energy-efficient, solar-powered sanctuary. Expanding this stewardship, he brought energy-saving solutions to the congregation, enabling families to take meaningful climate action by reducing pollution at home. Through his visionary leadership, Reverend Dr. Oscar T. Moses has not only raised awareness about climate change but also ignited a fire of inspiration and empowerment within the Calvary Baptist Church community and beyond. “I strive to help the congregants of Calvary Baptist Church move beyond hopelessness, to hope and beyond. This couldn’t be more vital as we deal with climate change. We cannot leave room in our hearts for blame or complacency. We have to work together to safeguard our planet for us and for the next generation.”

The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games (SLC-UT) is partnering with Utah Clean Energy to help achieve Utah’s ambitions for a “climate positive” Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2030 or 2034. Utah Talks Climate speaks with Catherine Raney Norman, a four-time Olympic speed skater and Chair of Salt Lake City Olympic Bid efforts about the impacts of climate change on winter sports, and the potential for Utah to host "climate positive" games.

Luigi Resta has been front and center in the clean energy revolution for two decades. He is responsible for the first solar farm in Utah, and through his company, rPlus Energies, continues to help power the West with pollution free clean energy. Hear his unique perspective on the history, and future, of the new energy era.

How Utah can play a leading role in the new energy economy while reinvesting in rural Utah. Josh Craft, Government and Corporate Relations Manager for Utah Clean Energy talks with Tom Love about the incredible opportunities within the Inflation Reduction Act to address climate change while reigniting the U.S. energy economy.

Becky Edwards is a pragmatic Republican who spent ten years as a legislator in the Utah House of Representatives. She championed action-based solutions that earned respect from both parties—especially when bringing together unlikely allies for a common cause, such as climate change. 

From wildlife to water, the Zion National Park Forever Project is exploring and implementing solutions to protect national parks from the impacts of climate change. Host Tom Love, President of Love Communications, talks with Mark Preiss, Director of Zion Forever Project, about how Zion National Park is being impacted and responding to climate change.  

Utah Clean Energy's Climate Scientist, Logan Mitchell, explores the water realities of living in a desert in the face of climate change.  We welcome one of the West's foremost experts on climate and water, Brian McInerney, Senior Hydrologist and Climate Change Scientist Retired at National Weather Service to look at the past, present, and future, of water conditions in the West.

It is no surprise that members of Utah's ski industry are increasingly becoming stalwarts for climate action. Dave Fields, President/GM at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, takes a deep dive into how Snowbird is addressing and adapting to our warming climate.

Tom Love, President of Love Communications, explores the evolution of climate change in the red state of Utah with Utah Clean Energy's founder and Executive Director, Sarah Wright. When Utah Clean Energy was incorporated in 2002, wind and solar farms in the state were nonexistent, next to zero homes had solar, and talking about climate change in the halls of Utah’s state capital required walking a political tightrope. In the years since, Utah Clean Energy has transformed Utah’s energy landscape. Utah now has enough renewable energy to power approximately 700,000 Utah homes, energy efficiency is a priority energy resource, and Utah leaders from across party lines are discussing the risks and solutions of climate change fueled by the burning of fossil fuels. With this transformation, Utah Clean Energy has become recognized as the state’s foremost expert on climate, clean energy, and air quality solutions.