By enormous margins, Utahns want alternative fuels developed in a fight against global warming. Their support even extends to the construction of nuclear power plants.

Soaring concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases are caused by power plant emissions, vehicle exhaust and the destruction of forests that otherwise would convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Mankind's carbon footprint stretches from airliners streaking contrails across the sky to pig farms wafting up methane.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere amounted to 280 parts per million in pre-industrial times. Now the gas is at about 375 ppm, up by a third.

The dramatically higher CO2 concentration is suspected of locking in more of the sun's warmth, causing a gradual worldwide heating. When glaciers melt, polar bears drown and deserts grow, demands for action reach a crescendo.

A minority opinion is that humans are not the main reason for global warming or they are, indeed, blameless. This argument attributes climate change to long-term natural cycles.

Lawmakers' concerns

But according to Utah's state energy adviser, Dianne Nielson, regardless of the cause, people can be part of the solution.

During a meeting of the Legislature's Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee this week, Rep. Michael E. Noel, R-Kanab, asked Nielson what is meant by greenhouse gases. Methane and other gases, called carbon-dioxide equivalents, she replied.

In coal-fired power plants, she added, a principal emission is carbon dioxide.

This colorless and odorless gas resists attempts to capture it in large-scale generating plants. Methods to reduce emissions range from using alternative fuels to pumping carbon dioxide underground to placing such a high "carbon tax" on fossil fuels that people are forced to use alternatives such as wind-driven generators and nuclear power.

Noel asked her if one has to "buy into the theory" that global warming is human-caused to support an agenda to limit emissions.

"I don't think that's necessarily true," Nielson replied. "We need to be in the process of controlling these emissions" to effect climate change. Reducing greenhouse gases "will make a difference in terms of climate change," she said.

Nielson added that developing diverse energy sources also will help industry and allow Utah to "be able to continue to be a part of the economy in the West.... If we are to compete, this is an important issue to deal with."

One alternative that has been gaining ground rapidly is the use of fuels made from biological material, as opposed to fossil fuels. Ethanol and other fuel made from organic material are already in use.