H.J.R. 21

1

JOINT RESOLUTION ON ENERGY POLICY
2 2010 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Michael E. Noel
5 Senate Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution urges that Utah 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
15
16 Be it resolved by the Legislature 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 state's 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, there has been no balanced and unbiased economic analysis of the costs
27 associated with carbon reduction mandates, the economic impacts of participation in a regional

28 cap and trade program, and the consequential effect of the increased costs of doing business in
29 Utah;
30 WHEREAS, the credibility of global climate science, data, and modeling that cannot
31 explain declining temperatures over the last decade, coupled with indications that the
32 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has incorporated flawed science to push
33 policymakers, requires reevaluation of the "consensus" and full scientific scrutiny of the
34 claims;
35 WHEREAS, forcing business, industry, and food producers to reduce carbon emissions
36 through government mandates and cap and trade policies will increase the cost of doing
37 business, push companies to do business with lower cost states or nations, and increase
38 consumer costs for electricity, fuel, and food;
39 WHEREAS, the Congressional Budget Office warns that the cost of cap and trade
40 policies under consideration for the WCI, and nationally, will be borne by consumers and will
41 place a disproportionately high burden on poorer households;
42 WHEREAS, there are growing scientific concerns that simply implementing carbon
43 reduction in Utah, the United States, or in the developed world will not have a significant
44 impact while countries like China, Russia, Mexico, and India are greatly expanding their
45 carbon footprints;
46 WHEREAS, carbon capture and sequestration are new technologies not yet proven, not
47 yet commercially demonstrated, and facing legal and regulatory challenges;
48 WHEREAS, if all nations globally met a Kyoto-style carbon dioxide reduction, climate
49 temperature would be reduced only 0.07 of a degree by 2050, and tremendous economic
50 growth would be sacrificed for very little global warming gain; and
51 WHEREAS, no state or nation has enhanced economic opportunities for its citizens or
52 increased Gross Domestic Product through cap and trade or other radical carbon reduction
53 policies:
54 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
55 urges the Governor to withdraw Utah from the WCI.
56 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor
57 Herbert, the WCI, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change, the
58 International Panel on Climate Change, the United States Environmental Protection Agency,

59 the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and to the members of Utah's congressional
60 delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 9-29-09 9:29 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel