"We have exceptional opportunities in the state in terms of wind power," as well as solar and geothermal energy, she said.

Barrus replied that she was touching on only one aspect of state energy policy, renewable energy. "Unless we take the leadership and the initiative to make sure that we are developing all of our energy resources, and I mean all of them ... we are going to see that we place our national sovereignty at risk," he said.

Members of the committee criticized a measure pending in Congress, HR2337, which would revise the Energy Policy Act of 2007. The Western Governors Association — of which Huntsman was elected vice chairman last week — called for a section of HR2337 to be revised during its recent meeting in South Dakota.

The section, related to oil shale development, would set a public comment period of 14 days for projects on federal land. The association called for the period to be extended to 120 days.

Nielson said extending the comment period allows better evaluation of projects, and that means any decision to license a plant would not be as likely to be overturned on technical challenges.

That's not the way the Western governors' letter was interpreted, she conceded. "But the governor spoke out, recognizing the need for a full and fair process" in evaluating proposals. "We need to recognize the investment that's been made in this state, and we need to work to find ways to enable those technologies to be utilized here."

At the motion of Rep. Patrick L. Painter, R-Nephi, the committee voted nearly unanimously to send a letter to the state's congressional delegation and to Huntsman, opposing HR2337. The only nay vote was that of Rep. Phil Riesen, D-Salt Lake.

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