Senate OKs economic impact studies for all climate change action

The Senate on Wednesday voted to require an economic impact study before any legislation or executive action to address climate change can take effect.

HB412, sponsored by Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, was amended prior to final passage after it met with stiff Democratic resistance during preliminary debate Tuesday.

The bill's Senate sponsor, Majority Whip Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said the change to the state's energy code is needed to guarantee that the Legislature is involved in any future decisions like the one made two years ago by Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. to join the Western Climate Initiative.

The Western Climate Initiative is a formal agreement between several western states and two provinces in Canada to work together on the reduction of greenhouse gases in the region.

Jenkins pointed out that 90 percent of the state's energy comes from coal and told senators the impact study requirement is also intended pre-empt anticipated federal regulations on carbon emissions.

Prior to being amended, the bill also included any proposal for action on climate change as part of the requirement, something Senate Minority Leader Patricia Jones, D-Salt Lake, ridiculed as "a tax on ideas."

Jones, who also opposed the amended version of the bill, said she could think of several types of legislation that could reasonably be required to have an economic impact study done.

"Why do we pick on climate change?" Jones asked.

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