Huntsman cutting Governor's Mansion energy costs

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. wants to lead by example, paving the way to a greener Utah. He announced at a news conference in front of his mansion Friday some key ways in which he plans to conserve energy and invited citizens to do the same.

"We're here to tell you what's happening at the localest of levels," Huntsman said at the news conference, "at the house of the people."

Rocky Mountain Power will now pump power to the Governor's Mansion through renewable energy credits under the Blue Sky Initiative. Energy credits buy renewable energy from resources such as wind and solar energy, rather than the traditional coal and natural gas resources, according to Rocky Mountain Power.

Through the purchase of these energy credits for the mansion, the government will be saving the equivalent of energy used by 57 vehicles, according to Huntsman.

Every light fixture in the Governor's Mansion will use compact fluorescent bulbs. Huntsman said that if 90 percent of the light fixtures in his 1901 historic mansion are replaceable, every citizen should have the capacity to do the same in their homes.

Huntsman also converted his Suburban to run on compressed natural gas. He invited those with financial capacity to convert their cars in the same manner. He said that other governors across the country transferred to hybrids or SUVs run by a gas-ethanol blend years ago and that he has decided to join their ranks.

Huntsman challenged citizens to set their thermostats two degrees up in the summer months and two degrees down in the winter months. He said that his home follows this pattern.

The governor hopes for a 20 percent energy reduction in Utah by 2015 — an ambitious goal for a state that has experienced on some days the worst air in the country.

"We're here to make a clarion call to individuals, to homes, to families, to businesses," Huntsman said. "They all can do something too. We're all in this together."

Huntsman also called upon the Blue Ribbon Climate Change Committee to report as soon as possible with a renewable portfolio initiative. He requested an "aggressive goal" from the committee.

The news conference finished as the governor signed an agreement with Rocky Mountain Power, sealing the deal using energy credits to provide cheaper power to the mansion.

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