Energy & Natural Resources
The Gardner Institute provides decision support to state policymakers on a variety of energy and natural resources topics. Research in this area focuses on water, energy, public lands, and quality growth. The institute currently convenes the Great Salt Lake Strike Team and has previously convened the Utah Energy Strike Team and Energy Advisory Council.
Featured Research
Great Salt Lake Data and Insights Summary, January 2026
In 2025, Utah continued to make progress on the health and long-term future of Great Salt Lake. The lake remains below healthy levels, but conditions have stabilized. Actions to ensure a healthy Great Salt Lake remain necessary, urgent, and possible. This report synthesizes essential data and insights to inform the recovery of Great Salt Lake.
A Portrait of Agriculture in Utah
Utah’s 17,386 farm operations, covering nearly one-fifth of all land statewide, sold a variety of products totaling $2.3 billion in 2022.
Utah’s Land Ownership Legacy: A History and Inventory of Utah’s Lands
The federal government owns 64.4% of Utah’s land – the second highest share in the country behind Nevada. Understanding the history of federal public land policy lays the foundation for understanding private, federal, state and tribal land ownership in Utah.
Utah’s Energy Sector
Utah’s energy sector continues to evolve as the forces of supply, demand, and technological change influence production and competition.
Utah’s Agriculture Economy
Agriculture’s contribution to Utah’s GDP in the first three quarters of 2024 came in at $2.0 billion, after facing a mixed year in 2023 with GDP declines to $1.3 billion by year-end.
Great Salt Lake Data and Insights Summary (January 2025)
In 2024, Great Salt Lake continued to rise from the record-low elevation reached in 2022, aided by two years of above-average precipitation and the adaptive management berm.
Driving Towards an Electric Future: Utah’s Clean Transportation Workforce
Increased adoption of electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles is changing Utah’s transportation sector, requiring a growing workforce trained on clean vehicles.
Research Brief: Utah’s Energy Sector in 2023 and Outlook for 2024
Utah is fortunate to have abundant and diverse energy resources, including large reserves of conventional fossil fuels as well as several areas suitable for renewable resource development. More recently, Utah has witnessed an evolution in its energy landscape.
2024 Great Salt Lake Policy Summary: Preserving Agriculture While Reducing Depletions
The Great Salt Lake Strike Team analyzed ten policy options and created summaries for each. The strike team does not endorse individual policies but rather evaluates the most-discussed options to address Great Salt Lake.
2024 Great Salt Lake Policy Summary: Quantifying Agriculture Depletions
The Great Salt Lake Strike Team analyzed ten policy options and created summaries for each. The strike team does not endorse individual policies but rather evaluated the most-discussed options to address Great Salt Lake.
