Due to time restraints the blog will be temporarily inactive.
Please see Beaver County's website, http://www.beaver.utah.gov/ for more information, or call Commission Assistant Scott Albrecht (435)438-6490.
When the blog becomes active we will notify the public through the local newspapers.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
GEOTHERMAL REVENUE SHARING
"Until a few years ago states and counties with geothermal energy developments on federal lands received a share of the revenue these activities generated. Then, Congress simply decided to stop sharing this revenue that was so critical in helping the largely rural and frequently economically depressed counties deal with the many issues and expenses created by this energy development." (Mark O. Walsh, Western Counties Alliance Executive Director)
Beaver County is significantly effected by Congress' decision to stop sharing these revenues. Currently Beaver County has the RAZOR Geothermal plant located just West of Minersville, the Blundell Geothermal plant, located North East of Milford, and a proposed Enel Geothermal plant North of Beaver. If the revenue from these plants were shared they would provide substantial funding that would assist in maintaining federal roads that lead to those plants and other land/road related projects. Without this shared revenue, the County still has to maintain those Federal land/roads, but the funds come from the Road Department Budget which means that some other road or project will not get funded.
Two bills have been introduced in Congress to restore this funding., H.R. 4060 sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson and S. 2607 sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid. It is important that these two bills are supported and the principle that the federal government should bear at least a share of the burden that federal activities impose on counties.
Listed below are the House co sponsors of H.R.
Rep Bishop, Rob
Rep Chaffetz, Jason
Rep Filner, Bob
Rep Heller, Dean
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M.
Rep Minnick, Walter
Rep Rehberg, Denny
Rep Simpson, Michael K.
Below are the Senate C0-sponsors of S. 2607
Sen Crapo, Mike
Sen Ensign, John
Sen Feinstein, Dianne
Sen Risch, James E.
Sen Hatch, Orrin
Below is a letter the Beaver County Commission wrote to our Representatives and Senators supporting the bills to reinstate the revenue sharing.
Double click anywhere on the letter to see an enlarged image.
Beaver County is significantly effected by Congress' decision to stop sharing these revenues. Currently Beaver County has the RAZOR Geothermal plant located just West of Minersville, the Blundell Geothermal plant, located North East of Milford, and a proposed Enel Geothermal plant North of Beaver. If the revenue from these plants were shared they would provide substantial funding that would assist in maintaining federal roads that lead to those plants and other land/road related projects. Without this shared revenue, the County still has to maintain those Federal land/roads, but the funds come from the Road Department Budget which means that some other road or project will not get funded.
Two bills have been introduced in Congress to restore this funding., H.R. 4060 sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson and S. 2607 sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid. It is important that these two bills are supported and the principle that the federal government should bear at least a share of the burden that federal activities impose on counties.
Listed below are the House co sponsors of H.R.
Rep Bishop, Rob
Rep Chaffetz, Jason
Rep Filner, Bob
Rep Heller, Dean
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M.
Rep Minnick, Walter
Rep Rehberg, Denny
Rep Simpson, Michael K.
Below are the Senate C0-sponsors of S. 2607
Sen Crapo, Mike
Sen Ensign, John
Sen Feinstein, Dianne
Sen Risch, James E.
Sen Hatch, Orrin
Below is a letter the Beaver County Commission wrote to our Representatives and Senators supporting the bills to reinstate the revenue sharing.
Double click anywhere on the letter to see an enlarged image.
Below is a response letter from Sen Orrin Hatch
Double click anywhere on the letter to see an enlarged image.
Monday, March 29, 2010
17th Annual Human Services PUBLIC FORUMS
This year's forum will provide County citizens an opportunity to express community interests and concerns. This dialogue will help prioritize community programs to better meet the needs and desires of County's residents.
Come share your opinions about community needs including:
Please attend if you are a Service Provider, a Consumer, a Community Leader.
Come share your opinions about community needs including:
- Food
- Employment
- Housing
- Transportation
- Child Care
- Health Care
- Volunteering
- Senior Programs
Please attend if you are a Service Provider, a Consumer, a Community Leader.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Reinstating the Drivers License Services
The Beaver County Commission is pleased to announce the Beaver County Drivers License Office will re-open on June 1st, 2010 in the Beaver County Administrative Building conference room. The office will continue the previous schedule: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 8:30 - 4:30. The new office will operate much like it did before with the exception of the new ID requirements and enhanced services such as the ability to accept credit/debit cards and computerized testing.
After much discussion and weighing alternative options, the commission has agreed to grant the Drivers License Division complete access and control of the Administrative Building conference room. As a result, the room will not be available for other use. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those who currently use the conference room. The Commission Chambers as well as the Search and Rescue conference room, located in the old Sheriff's office, will be available. Please contact Kari Draper (435)438-6363 for scheduling.
After much discussion and weighing alternative options, the commission has agreed to grant the Drivers License Division complete access and control of the Administrative Building conference room. As a result, the room will not be available for other use. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those who currently use the conference room. The Commission Chambers as well as the Search and Rescue conference room, located in the old Sheriff's office, will be available. Please contact Kari Draper (435)438-6363 for scheduling.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
State Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Awards
On March 26, 2009, the Department of Energy (DOE) released the DE-Funding Opportunity Announcement-0000013 and the funding allocations for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Utah was allocated direct formula grants totaling $34,214,700 to use for projects to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency, stimulate the economy, and create or retain jobs.
Of the state allocated EECBG grants, the Utah State Energy Program (USEP) was allocated $9,593,500. Utah formula cities and counties were allocated $18,184,100 and federally recognized tribes, in Utah were allocated $6,437,100. The USEP funds will soon be available as sub-awards, on a competitive basis, to certain local governments. Source: Utah Geological Survey website.
Beaver County submitted a renewable energy application for a solar thermal hot water heating system and a photovoltaic solar system for the Public Safety Facility. We are pleased to announce that the application has been awarded as part of phase II of the sub-awards.
The new solar thermal hot water heating system is aimed to offset 43% of the annual natural gas usage. This reduction in natural gas use will result in 3,380 tons of carbon dioxide “equivalents” being eliminated from the environment. This is equivalent to removing the emissions of 624 cars or 300 homes for one year.
The photovoltaic system will result in roughly $3,700 in savings per year. According to the economic multipliers from data provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis,these two projects should create 17 new jobs.
The construction start date is not yet determined.
Utah was allocated direct formula grants totaling $34,214,700 to use for projects to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency, stimulate the economy, and create or retain jobs.
Of the state allocated EECBG grants, the Utah State Energy Program (USEP) was allocated $9,593,500. Utah formula cities and counties were allocated $18,184,100 and federally recognized tribes, in Utah were allocated $6,437,100. The USEP funds will soon be available as sub-awards, on a competitive basis, to certain local governments. Source: Utah Geological Survey website.
Beaver County submitted a renewable energy application for a solar thermal hot water heating system and a photovoltaic solar system for the Public Safety Facility. We are pleased to announce that the application has been awarded as part of phase II of the sub-awards.
The new solar thermal hot water heating system is aimed to offset 43% of the annual natural gas usage. This reduction in natural gas use will result in 3,380 tons of carbon dioxide “equivalents” being eliminated from the environment. This is equivalent to removing the emissions of 624 cars or 300 homes for one year.
The photovoltaic system will result in roughly $3,700 in savings per year. According to the economic multipliers from data provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis,these two projects should create 17 new jobs.
The construction start date is not yet determined.
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