Utah

Housing, Transportation, and Social Services

Advanced networks of mortgage and rental services characterize the Utah housing market. Not-for-profit and government social services in Utah do not allow development of a pattern of homeless people on the streets. Among the leading companies that build affordable houses in Utah is Ivory Homes. The median price of homes in Utah is about $156,000.

Because of the absence of effective public transportation in the state, private transportation is the primary mode of travel in Utah. Many families have more than one vehicle. Larry Miller and Ken Garff are leading companies that sell American, Japanese, and European vehicles.

The UTE public transportation in the Greater Salt Lake City area includes TRAX and city buses. One-way tickets, daily passes, and monthly passes are available. Many social segments, like the students of the University of Utah, use the free transportation offered by the state.

Energy and Water

Coal, natural gas, and oil reserves are substantial fossil energy resources located in the eastern part of Utah. Utah produces more electricity than it consumes: 45.4 billion kWh versus 27.8 billion kWh, respectively. Main energy sources are coal (42 percent) and petroleum (34.5 percent), followed by natural gas (21.8 percent), and renewables (1.7 percent).

Because of Utah's low population density, its energy consumption is not high; it ranks 48th for energy expenditures per capita. Energy end use by sector is as follows: residential (20.1 percent), commercial (18.6 percent), industrial (28.1 percent), and for transportation (33.3 percent).

The leading sectors of energy usage are the Utah Transit Authority and the state's industrial sectors. Major international gas companies have numerous stations in Utah (such as the Chevron Corporation). Sinclair Oil Corporation is a Utah-based company with wide distribution in much of the United States. The population of Utah also uses the gasoline services of Maverik and 7-Eleven. Utah has considerable renewable energy potential in the areas of geothermal, wind, and solar power. The state is also rich in water resources: surface water, such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers; and ground water, such as wells and springs. Utah's surface-water quality is one of the highest ranked in the United States. Utah is also among the top 10 states for public water supply. Most of the freshwater is used for irrigation (81.1 percent), followed by public supply (13.4 percent). Freshwater consumption by other categories varies: from 0.3 percent (domestic) to 2.4 percent (aquaculture).

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