Overview

• Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Gov. Spencer Cox the White House supports greater state control of public lands and a sharp increase in energy production.
• Cox marked the One Utah Summit by extending Operation Gigawatt to pursue the country’s entire nuclear supply chain and to make Utah a model for permitting reform.
• Burgum linked expanded power generation to the AI economy and rural opportunity, saying energy capacity will shape competitiveness.
• The secretary addressed the summit via Zoom after canceling travel due to the federal government shutdown, reiterating that federal permitting has been used to halt projects.
• Environmental and public-lands groups warned that faster approvals could sideline safeguards and public input, raising concerns about landscapes and nuclear waste management.