Huntsman creates a climate panel

In a historic move for Utah, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has set up a Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change.

"There's an issue here and we have to talk about it," Huntsman said in Friday's initial meeting. "There is a sense of humanity in the air we breathe and the land we share."

The governor invited 15 people to be a part of the council. Their interests range from the coal and electric power industries to the Sierra Club and local mayors. The council's purpose is to review the science of climate change as it relates to Utah and to look at potential policies that could be implemented to achieve the goals of the Utah Energy Initiative.

The initiative was created with the help of Laura Nelson, energy policy adviser to the governor. It is the most aggressive initiative in the western United States, slated to attain significantly greater energy efficiency by 2015, said Jim Sims of Western Business Roundtable, which deals with many stakeholders, from natural resources to renewable energies to manufacturers.

"Just by launching that initiative, he (Huntsman) is taking the leadership position," Sims said. "Energy efficiency is a difficult task."

Huntsman, however, applauded the efforts of mayors Peter Corroon of Salt Lake County; Rocky Anderson of Salt Lake City; Dave Sakrison of Moab; and Dana Williams of Park City for their efforts in making their jurisdictions greener. All of them have initiated some kind of energy-efficiency policy.

"We recognize that this is the beginning of something important," Anderson told the Deseret Morning News.

The meeting mainly was a forum for everyone to talk about what goals the advisory council would adopt and to talk about future proposals that may be presented to the governor.

Corroon talked about steps being taken within his jurisdiction. Recently Murray started converting landfill methane emissions into electricity. The Salt Palace will also be putting solar panels atop its new garage to generate electricity.

He presented five goals to the council: Education through facts, looking at health issues, energy needs, business issues and the science of energy.

"This has the potential to bring many changes in state policy," Corroon said. "But the government first has to do its part" to set the example.

Williams talked about efforts being made by Park City. Many residents are part of the Blue Sky program; the Tanger Outlet Mall is run on 100 percent wind power; and those are just a few of the things.