Most of that wind energy has been brought into Utah from wind energy producers in Wyoming, Washington and Oregon where there are high volume wind areas that are close to existing transmission sites, according to Eskelsen. He said those wind resources translate into lower costs for consumers compared to what it would take to harvest wind energy in Utah's most likely candidates for wind sources, which Eskelsen said exist in Box Elder County.

SB173 may run into competition with legislation being proposed by Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo. 3form President Talley Goodson expressed concern about Rocky Mountain Power's influence over Bramble's bill, which Goodson worries will discourage free enterprise and "entrust" Utah's energy future to Rocky Mountain Power shareholders.

McCoy said a few differences between his bill and Bramble's will be in how much of a "monopoly" Rocky Mountain Power could end up having over renewable energy sources in Utah, the strength of either bill to guarantee reaching renewable energy goals and how much cost will be passed on to consumers.

Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, also took a moment Wednesday to tout her own bill, which seeks a $1,000 tax credit for new vehicles meeting air quality and fuel economy standards and eliminates a provision excluding hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles from the tax credit. McGee's HB106 on Monday passed favorably out of a House committee meeting and awaits consideration by the full House and Senate.

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E-mail: spseckman@desnews.com