As to the alternative fuels for generation of electricity, "Utah has a large resource of geothermal steam all ready to go, which displaces the need for these other fuels (coal, gas and nuclear) and their side effects."

But of more direct effect on Utahns' pocketbooks would have been the tax credits for buying so-called hybrid or fuel-cell cars. The amount of the credit ranges from a couple of hundred dollars to as much as $10,000, depending on the size of the vehicle and its improved mileage over standard gas guzzlers.

Heavy trucks could qualify for even more.

But most of all, supporters say, the bill targets the major criticisms of alternative-fuel and hybrid cars: they cost too much and you can't find the fuel to run them.

By softening the financial hit to consumers, automakers would have an incentive to produce more of them. And as more of them hit the market, the demand would fuel a market in fuels to run them.

The tax incentives — tax credits instead of deductions — would have cost about $2.4 billion over the next 10 years.

Hatch plans to reintroduce the legislation next year.

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E-mail: spang@desnews.com