From Deseret News archives:
Renewable energy sources, climate change are hot topics on Hill
"I'm on that bandwagon," Noel told a committee of lawmakers about climate change. "I'm for the consumer."
Noel, R-Kanab, was speaking directly to Gov. Jon Hunstman Jr.'s energy advisor, Dianne Nielson, during a meeting of the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment interim committee meeting. His concern is that consumers are paying increasingly more for energy needs.
Nielson had just given a presentation to the committee on Utah's strategic use of energy resources, which includes developing renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal. She also talked about tapping into unconventional fuels like oil shale, which Huntsman last week asked Congress to allow Utah to develop as an energy source.
Noel suggested that renewable resources may be less efficient and more costly to consumers. He and Nielson also touched on the science behind possibly defining nuclear power as a renewable source as the state seeks to reach a goal of producing 20 percent of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2025.
Lawmakers also expressed an interest in spending around $300,000 on hiring Copenhagen Consensus Center to organize a panel of economists, policy makers and stakeholders to look at the cost to consumers of balancing and prioritizing needs to develop renewable energy sources, managing carbon emissions and protecting the environment.
Copenhagen Consensus Center energy consultant Wesley Smith will be back in front of the committee next month to talk more about project logistics and how to fund it.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
Recent comments
It is the height of dishonesty to redefine terms late in the game,...
Rutherford | May 21, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
- Police: Child porn virus 'old story' 9:22 p.m.
- Curl up with a book and a dog 9:21 p.m.
- Storm coming to Utah Thursday 9:20 p.m.
- Canyons chief named law group's v.p. 9:19 p.m.
- Photo: A pull in the park 9:17 p.m.
- Lehi car crash victim seriously hurt 9:15 p.m.
- Feeling unhappy? Move to Utah 9:14 p.m.
- Teams field good defenses 9:13 p.m.
- Chamber gives ideas for budget 9:06 p.m.
- Phone to bring callers face to face 9:05 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Gays get Mormon support in SLC
- House passes health care bill
284 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
239 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
100
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
I agree with Louise: “…it is the right and duty of all people to...
So, what percentage of the total cocaine in the US was that, and will it, or...
Thanks for the memories but it is time to hang it up. The Jazz are loyal to...
Good luck, Lou. You deserve better than CNN and their slanted views of...
Boozer is not the problem if you look at Okur. The return of Korver, and CJ...
I was very interested in Ms. Stoner's comments. I thought she expressed...
they lost given that awesome D Boozer was playing. Seriously, all you Boozer...
We are having good practices now and we are having fun playing football. ...
I love how they are trying to directly copy the Spectrum. You can try, but...
Have you seen the changes to US bankruptcy law that were passed a few years...

