One alternative that has been gaining ground rapidly is the use of fuels made from biological material, as opposed to fossil fuels. Ethanol and other fuel made from organic material are already in use.

During the interim committee meeting, Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, asked Nielson if agricultural bio-mass fuel production is part of the energy-diversity discussion.

"It is," she said, "and it has been in terms of generation of fuels from corn, which is a significant component of the ethanol production." Also, she said, animal waste could be used to generate fuel. She said the waste component may be more useful in this state because of the great number of livestock here.

What Utahns think

Utahns overwhelmingly agree with Nielson about the importance of developing new fuel sources, according to a Deseret Morning News-KSL TV survey, carried out by Dan Jones & Associates June 26 to 28. With 410 people interviewed statewide, the poll has a possible error rate of plus or minus 5 percent.

Asked whether they thought it's a good idea to make major changes in sources, such as switching to renewable energy, 46 percent said it was definitely good and 39 percent said it was probably good, for a combined total of 85 percent positive. "Probably bad" was the answer of 4 percent, and "definitely bad" accounted for 2 percent, meaning 6 percent were opposed. (Three percent said it "depends," and 6 percent did not know.)

To say there's a groundswell of enthusiasm for non-traditional energy is an understatement. Responses were not exclusive, with residents expressing approval or disapproval of six energy sources.

Those surveyed were asked if they favor government investment and incentives to encourage development of various ways to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Listed in order of their popularity with Utahns, these are:

• The greatest support goes to energy efficiency and conservation, with 94 percent of those surveyed saying they would definitely or probably support this option. Those opposed amount to only 3 percent, with the remaining 3 percent uncertain.

• Solar power seems like a solid investment to 92 percent, with most (64 percent of the total) saying they definitely support developments in this field and 28 percent agreeing that government probably should support it. Opposed were 4 percent.

• Wind power incentives are favored by 90 percent, with 7 percent opposed.

• Geothermal power, using the heat inside Earth to generate power, gained the support of 80 percent: 45 percent definitely supporting providing incentives to improve this option, 35 percent saying they probably would. Those opposed to government investment in geothermal energy were 4 percent.