WATER POLICY · GREAT SALT LAKE
Utah resolved a decades-old dispute with the federal government involving land near the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The agreement transfers 22,311 surface acres to the federal government and provides Utah with $60 million in four payments over 26 months.
CRITICAL MINERALS · RURAL ECONOMY
On September 9, USDA awarded a $25 million loan guarantee supporting Milford Mining’s copper mining and processing operation in Beaver County. USDA expects the investment to generate approximately 100 jobs. The financing comes through its Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program in partnership with Magnolia Bank.
ENERGY · AI INFRASTRUCTURE
Fervo Energy signed a 396-megawatt power purchase agreement with Google for electricity from Cape Station in southwest Utah. Google also has an option to add approximately 600 megawatts, potentially bringing its total purchase to nearly one gigawatt by June 2030.
ADVANCED MATERIALS · WATER
The Nucleus Fund announced an investment in Provo-based Terraphene, which is developing hemp-based alternatives to wood, plastic, concrete and other materials. The company reports a supply agreement valued at approximately $900 million for molded, fastener-free pallets.
CRITICAL MINERALS · INFRASTRUCTURE
The Utah Inland Port Authority approved a business incentive of up to $193.996 million to support A1 Lithium’s planned Green River lithium project. The incentive is structured as a rebate of up to 50% of incremental property-tax revenue over 25 years after operations begin, not an upfront grant.
ENERGY · RESEARCH
Utah State University and Hi Tech Solutions signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate, plan and advance a technical-training and applied-research campus for advanced nuclear energy and defense. Brigham City’s participation remains subject to city-council approval.
CRITICAL MINERALS · FEDERAL
The U.S. Department of Energy selected West Valley City-based Nusano as one of nine companies entering award negotiations for projects to recover critical minerals and other valuable materials from industrial feedstocks. The nine selections total $162 million, but individual awards are not final.
ENERGY · COLLABORATION
Weber County’s August 5 Nuclear Energy Symposium brought together reactor developers, utilities, universities, technical colleges and state and local officials to discuss development feasibility and nuclear-workforce needs.
