Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HJR021.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

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


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]