Office of Energy Development -- Creation -- Director -- Purpose -- Rulemaking regarding confidential information -- Fees -- Transition for employees.
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(1) There is created an Office of Energy Development in the Department of Natural Resources.
(2)
(a) The energy advisor shall serve as the director of the office or, on or before June 30, 2029, appoint a director of the office.
(b) The director:
(i) shall, if the energy advisor appoints a director under Subsection (2)(a), report to the energy advisor; and
(ii) may appoint staff as funding within existing budgets allows.
(c) The office may consolidate energy staff and functions existing in the state energy program.
(3) The purposes of the office are to:
(a) serve as the primary resource for advancing energy and mineral development in the state;
(b) implement:
(i) the state energy policy under Section 79-6-301; and
(ii) the governor's energy and mineral development goals and objectives;
(c) advance energy education, outreach, and research, including the creation of elementary, higher education, and technical college energy education programs;
(d) promote energy and mineral development workforce initiatives; and
(e) support collaborative research initiatives targeted at Utah-specific energy and mineral development.
(4) By following the procedures and requirements of Title 63J, Chapter 5, Federal Funds Procedures Act, the office may:
(a) seek federal grants or loans;
(b) seek to participate in federal programs; and
(c) in accordance with applicable federal program guidelines, administer federally funded state energy programs.
(5) The office shall perform the duties required by Sections 11-42a-106, 59-5-102, 59-7-614.7, 59-10-1029, Part 5, Alternative Energy Development Tax Credit Act, and Part 6, High Cost Infrastructure Development Tax Credit Act.
(6)
(a) For purposes of administering this section, the office may make rules, by following Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to maintain as confidential, and not as a public record, information that the office receives from any source.
(b) The office shall maintain information the office receives from any source at the level of confidentiality assigned by the source.
(7) The office may charge application, filing, and processing fees in amounts determined by the office in accordance with Section 63J-1-504 as dedicated credits for performing office duties described in this part.
(8)
(a) An employee of the office is an at-will employee.
(b) For an employee of the office on July 1, 2021, the employee shall have the same salary and benefit options the employee had when the office was part of the office of the governor.