USU Pres. Cantwell's New Podcast Episode Highlights Future of Energy in Utah

The latest episode of “Future Casting with Utah State,” hosted by University President Elizabeth Cantwell, discussed the energy sector in Utah and how it is ever-changing. This episode featured discussion between two individuals in the field, Theresa Foxley and Jeff Hartley.

Foxley works for rPlus Energies, which she talks in more detail of throughout the podcast episode. Foxley is a USU alumnus and holds a Juris Doctorate from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.

Jeff Hartley is an energy lobbyist in Utah. Throughout the episode he shared his experience in government affairs, political strategy, public policy and public relations. Hartley earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Communications from Brigham Young University.

Both guests emphasize the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit in Utah and investing in research and partnerships with universities to support new energy technologies.

“I think it's rather unique to Utah element of how entrepreneurial this state is, we have so many different innovations in energy coming on,” Hartley said. “I tell people this a lot: In the oil and gas fields, there are more patents filed every year than from Silicon Valley. But here in Utah, we have people looking at all different types of energies and how you take a traditional source.”

This episode also highlights the economic benefits of energy development in rural communities.

“So we work with local communities, energy-producing communities, legacy energy-producing communities like carbon, and new energy-producing communities that haven't had resources under the ground, but they have a lot of resources above ground like solar and wind to bring new economically impactful projects online,” Foxley said.

For more information, listen to “Future Casting with Utah State” on UPR.org or visit the president’s communications webpage.