Salt Lake City, UT, August 20, 2026 —

WASHINGTON D.C. – Curt Coccodrilli, acting assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, recently visited Utah to tour the state’s energy infrastructure and engage in discussions regarding its future energy landscape.

The visit highlighted a shift in federal energy policy, with the current administration’s DOE focusing on bolstering electricity generation across various sources. This includes a renewed emphasis on coal, geothermal, and nuclear energy production. This approach marks a departure from the decarbonization priorities that characterized previous administrations.

During his visit, Coccodrilli’s engagements centered on understanding Utah’s energy resources and the state’s potential role in the nation’s energy production goals. The DOE views Utah’s abundant energy resources and its politically supportive environment as significant assets that align with the department’s new strategic direction.

The office of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy is tasked with overseeing a broad spectrum of energy resources, and this tour underscores the department’s commitment to exploring and developing all available domestic energy options to meet current and future demands.



Story summarized from the original created by Eva Terry, Leah Bowers on www.deseret.com, see more information here.

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