Fossil fuel subsidies through the Inland Port?
Photo of Cottonwood Campground, a few miles from the mine site by Jeremy T. Dyer, BLM Utah
The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) has once again shown its lack of accountability and poor stewardship of taxpayer dollars by including a coal mine in its development plans. The Fossil Rock Mine, located in Carbon and Emery counties and owned by Wolverine Fuels LLC, reopened last year after being closed since 2001. While the mine’s operations are currently not funded by UIPA, Executive Director Ben Hart admitted that taxpayer funding could be funneled into the project in the future: “There may come a time where it does.”
This latest move stands in contrast to the state’s supposed commitment to investing in cleaner energy sources. The mine is an outdated investment with limited future potential. The Hunter and Huntington coal plants are set to close by 2036 and 2042, respectively. Meanwhile, mine owners are already struggling to staff the mine due to hazardous working conditions and regulatory challenges. The mining industry has long exploited the state’s willingness to sacrifice its environment and risk public health for extraction.
UIPA’s operations have never aligned with environmentally friendly practices. Since its inception, UIPA has faced widespread public opposition, fueled by concerns over diesel pollution and truck traffic. Its strategy has shifted significantly from its original Salt Lake City location, to now over 10 project areas across the state, including projects near Great Salt Lake wetlands. Over 77,000 acres of wetlands could be destroyed or impaired by UIPA’s projects, threatening critical ecosystems and contradicting claims of public health and environmental stewardship. Without public subsidies, these areas would likely remain undeveloped due to the high costs and lack of infrastructure.
Taxpayers should be outraged that the Inland Port is not prioritizing clean, sustainable industries. As Stanley Holmes of Utah Citizens Advocating Renewable Energy put it: “They’re asking for their funding…to do things that aren’t transparent at all,” potentially leaving Utah residents to “prop up coal” at the expense of public health and the environment.
Despite claims that the coal mine aligns with Emery County’s economic development strategy, we must question whether this plan truly reflects community interests or merely serves the fossil fuel industry.
This legislative session, make sure your representatives know where your priorities lie.