Legislature wants out of Climate Initiative
Chris Wade
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Community
Representative Mike Noel, a Republican from Kanab, has drafted a measure designed to pull Utah out of the Western Climate Initiative. This non-binding resolution was passed 51-19 in an attempt to show Governor Huntsman, that Utahns don't feel they have a place in this Initiative.
The Western Climate Initiative is a group of seven states and four Canadian provinces.
This was "created to identify, evaluate, and implement collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region, focusing on a market-based cap-and-trade system," (www.westernclimateinitiative.org)
"We agree to collaborate in identifying, evaluating and implementing ways to reduce green house gas's emissions in our states collectively and to achieve related co-benefits." (Taken from the Climate Action initiative Agreement) "Whereas western states re experiencing the effects of a hotter, drier climate including prolonged droughts, excessive heat waves, reduced snowpack's, wide spread forest diseases…and other serious impacts…The WGA has declared that climate change could have severe economic and environmental impacts on the western states in coming decades."
While Utahans may not agree on their states involvement in this specific initiative, the state's website, attempts to explain the Governors views.
"Utah has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2005 levels by 2020. This is a goal and not a policy or mandate. There will be ongoing economic analysis and stakeholder consultations to continue to inform this work. It is ambitious, but achievable while ensuring a continuing sound economy." (www.utah.gov)
The government had made it clear this is simply a goal, open for discussion and reevaluation. However some representatives are still concerned these clean air restrictions will hurt Utah's already fragile economy.
"Utah's power is 96 percent coal fired, when we cap carbon we'll be injured. Renewable energy, however beneficial will cost more money. Rep Mike Noel.
The Western Climate Initiative is a group of seven states and four Canadian provinces.
This was "created to identify, evaluate, and implement collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region, focusing on a market-based cap-and-trade system," (www.westernclimateinitiative.org)
"We agree to collaborate in identifying, evaluating and implementing ways to reduce green house gas's emissions in our states collectively and to achieve related co-benefits." (Taken from the Climate Action initiative Agreement) "Whereas western states re experiencing the effects of a hotter, drier climate including prolonged droughts, excessive heat waves, reduced snowpack's, wide spread forest diseases…and other serious impacts…The WGA has declared that climate change could have severe economic and environmental impacts on the western states in coming decades."
While Utahans may not agree on their states involvement in this specific initiative, the state's website, attempts to explain the Governors views.
"Utah has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2005 levels by 2020. This is a goal and not a policy or mandate. There will be ongoing economic analysis and stakeholder consultations to continue to inform this work. It is ambitious, but achievable while ensuring a continuing sound economy." (www.utah.gov)
The government had made it clear this is simply a goal, open for discussion and reevaluation. However some representatives are still concerned these clean air restrictions will hurt Utah's already fragile economy.
"Utah's power is 96 percent coal fired, when we cap carbon we'll be injured. Renewable energy, however beneficial will cost more money. Rep Mike Noel.
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