The Utah Inland Port Authority board approved a tax sharing agreement Thursday that will help Beaver County study whether a turning lane is needed at Geothermal Plant Road and SR-257 in the Mineral Mountains Project Area.
The agreement allows Beaver County to use $10,000 in collected tax differential toward the $40,000 study. Fervo Energy will contribute the remaining $30,000.
The study comes as construction activity tied to Fervo Energy has increased traffic on Geothermal Plant Road. While the funding amount is modest, local leaders say the project is an important step toward improving safety, protecting existing roads and planning for long-term growth in Beaver County.
“This is exactly the kind of practical, locally driven investment UIPA was built to support,” said Danny Stewart, associate vice president of regional project area development for UIPA. “A turning lane study may seem small on paper, but for Beaver County, it is about keeping people safe, protecting critical infrastructure and making sure growth in the Mineral Mountains Project Area happens the right way.”
The Mineral Mountains Project Area was created to support responsible economic development in Beaver County, with a focus on infrastructure, energy, logistics and long-term regional opportunity. The road study will help determine whether additional safety improvements are needed as activity in the area increases.
“Beaver County is seeing real momentum, and with that comes the need to plan carefully for the roads, utilities and infrastructure that support our residents and businesses,” said Beaver County Commissioner Brandon Yardley. “This partnership gives us the ability to take a closer look at a key access point and make informed decisions that benefit the community.”
The tax sharing agreement received a unanimous favorable recommendation from UIPA’s Tax Differential Committee on May 14 before being presented to the full board.
Published: 05/21/26
Author: Kaitlin Felsted