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H.R. 3
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6 LONG TITLE
7 General Description:
8 This resolution of the House of Representatives of the state of Utah urges that Utah
9 withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This resolution:
12 . urges the Governor to withdraw Utah from the Western Climate Initiative.
13 Special Clauses:
14 None
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16 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
17 WHEREAS, Utah's location and natural resources are an economic advantage and
18 catalyst for economic growth and opportunity for Utah's citizens through abundant and
19 affordable power, providing the seventh lowest electric rates in the nation;
20 WHEREAS, the nation's coal fired power plants provide for half of the United States
21 electricity demand, and power generated from Utah's abundant and clean burning coal provides
22 for nearly 90% of the states' power needs;
23 WHEREAS, participation in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) requires Utah,
24 through public policy, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions without legislative consultation or
25 public input;
26 WHEREAS, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change
27 (BRAC) lacked balance and did not provide for full debate of global warming issues as they
28 relate to Utah and the economic costs associated with BRAC's policy options;
29 WHEREAS, there has been no balanced and unbiased economic analysis of the costs
30 associated with carbon reduction mandates, the economic impacts of participation in a regional
31 cap and trade program, and the consequential effect of the increased costs of doing business in
32 Utah;
33 WHEREAS, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality granted a questionable
34 sole source contract for a cost/benefit analysis to Duke University's Nicholas Institute, whose
35 Director, Dr. Tim Profeta, was chief architect of the Lieberman-Warner "cap and trade" federal
36 legislation;
37 WHEREAS, forcing business, industry, and food producers to reduce carbon emissions
38 through government mandates and cap and trade policies will increase the cost of doing
39 business, push companies to do business with lower cost states or nations, and increase
40 consumer costs for electricity, fuel, and food;
41 WHEREAS, the Congressional Budget Office warns that the cost of cap and trade
42 policies under consideration for the WCI, and nationally, will be borne by consumers and will
43 place a disproportionately high burden on poorer households;
44 WHEREAS, there are growing scientific concerns that simply implementing carbon
45 reduction in Utah, the United States, or in the developed world will not have a significant
46 impact while countries like China, Russia, Mexico, and India are greatly expanding their
47 carbon footprints;
48 WHEREAS, carbon capture and sequestration are new technologies not yet proven, not
49 yet commercially demonstrated, and facing legal and regulatory challenges;
50 WHEREAS, if all nations globally met a Kyoto-style carbon dioxide reduction, climate
51 temperature would be reduced only 0.07 degrees by 2050, tremendous economic growth would
52 be sacrificed for very little global warming gain; and
53 WHEREAS, no state or nation has enhanced economic opportunities for its citizens or
54 increased Gross Domestic Product through cap and trade or other radical carbon reduction
55 policies:
56 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives of the
57 State of Utah urges the Governor to withdraw Utah from the WCI.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor
59 Huntsman, the WCI, the BRAC, the International Panel on Climate Change, the Nicholas
60 Institute at Duke University, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Utah
61 Department of Environmental Quality, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-6-09 8:52 AM