Blank check for nuclear power?

Noel said lawmakers believe they can protect ratepayers by keeping costs down and having a wide array of energy sources, so that Utah isn't too heavily reliant upon one source of energy.

He said in preparation for the October interim meeting, the committee will spend the next few weeks reviewing data and gathering more feedback from the public, as well as conferring with the Public Service Commission. Noel said the committee also will look at how other states use incentives to attract companies that produce non-nuclear types of energy.

Later Wednesday, Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan, said on the Senate floor that nuclear power would benefit the state economically. Stowell also predicted new activity at several uranium mines in the state.

"Nuclear is going to be a big deal in Utah. There's going to be a lot of development," Stowell said. "We're going to see a big, huge increase in the future in uranium mining."

---

Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche.
E-mail: jlee@desnews.com