This Utah Republican recognized by Time 100 on climate

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appeared in the Time 100 list of 2026 climate leaders released on Monday alongside energy entrepreneurs, environmental organizers and celebrity activists, standing out as one of the lone conservatives. The recognition marks Cox’s burgeoning reputation as a Republican advocate for reforms that multiply power supply without compromising natural landscapes. It also indicates the growing appeal of renewables alongside wind and solar. Cox has been one of the most vocal champions of small modular reactors and geothermal plants as essential to an electricity revolution, bringing a bipartisan focus to this agenda as chair of the Western Governors’ Association. In 2026, he announced a nuclear “ecosystem” in Brigham City. This summer, the first modular reactor built outside a lab went critical in Orangeville. Last month, a geothermal operation in Milford sold its first 396 megawatts.

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