By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News | Photo courtesy of the Utah State Legislature

Two weeks into the 45-day session of the Utah State Legislature, legislators are moving at a breakneck pace. 

Rep. Christine Watkins joined the KOAL newsroom to cut through the chaos and discuss a pair of bills dealing with energy, as well as a new bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in state elections.

Opening our conversation, Watkins spoke on HB401. This bill directs the Office of Energy Development to conduct a study examining the feasibility of developing geothermal energy facilities at or near existing coal-fired electrical generation facilities.

“What we wanted to do is have the Department of Energy Development here in Utah, our local one, just do a study wherever we have a coal power plant to see if there’s geothermal energy there, and with the exception of the IPP power plant area, because they have the salt domes, so we know what they have is really important for other types of energy, but we just wanted to see if that’s a possibility,” shared Watkins.

The representative continued,” We’re really looking at nuclear down the road when we decide that coal power plants won’t be necessary anymore, but we just wanted to see if there is a possibility of geothermal.”

Another energy-based bill, HB413, addresses surplus power. “What it would do is say to the larger power producers, you know, Rocky Mountain Power, some of our rural ones, that what they do is they designate so much power to an entity, and that entity uses that power, pays for it, and just goes happily along. Well, we have some of these entities that are promised a certain amount of power, and they don’t use it all. It just is there, but they don’t use it. So, what we want to be able to do is say, ‘Hey, you’re not using that power. You’ve never used it. It’s not a lot, but we would like to be able to take that power, put it back into the system, and allocate it for another industry or business,’ and it’s kind of a new idea.”

Switching gears, Watkins shifted focus to HB209, a bill that would require voters to prove they are U.S. citizens if election officers lack confirmation and contact them seeking documentation.

“It just says if you’re not a citizen of the United States, you cannot vote in Utah’s system. Now, it has nothing to do with the federal government because they have their own set of rules, but this is Utah’s rules,” explained Watkins. “So it’s a good bill, an important bill, and to send that message that unless you’re a citizen, don’t try it.”

Looking to the future, Watkins previewed what could be coming up for the legislature, “We’re really busy. If anyone’s been paying attention, we’ve been doing a lot of bills dealing with the judicial system. We’re making some changes, adding judges in certain categories, the Utah Supreme Court, and in some of our bigger court systems up here up north, they’re going to be adding judges. And there are going to be some other changes coming down the road. I haven’t seen the bills numbered yet, but we’ll talk about it when they come out. But we are fast and furious up here.”

To keep up with what’s happening in the Utah State Legislature, visit le.utah.gov.