Specifics he wants to see in the final proposed energy policy include incentives for research and development, goals to reduce the nation's carbon footprint and setting a national cap and trade policy to limit emissions.

The governor has already riled conservatives by signing on to the Western Climate Initiative pushed by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that sets goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to ease global warming.

Huntsman's former campaign manager and chief of staff, Jason Chaffetz, pulled off a big win over Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, in the GOP primary after calling global warming "a farce" at the party's state convention.

"Every state has members of their congressional delegation who feel differently about these things. That's just politics," Huntsman said. He said that trying to change Chaffetz's mind is "not on my list of things to get done."

The governor compared the goal of coming up with an energy policy to President John F. Kennedy's 1961 call to put a man on the moon. Both, he said, require pulling together as a nation. "We're in need of a moon shot here, folks."

---

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com