Utahns list proposals for climate bills

Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Congress Tuesday about some items that each wants, or does not want, in upcoming bills to fight global warming.

Chaffetz introduced a bill that would make electric utilities list on customers' bills any higher costs that are being passed on to them from "cap and trade" programs expected in global warming legislation.

Such programs would cap the emissions utilities produce now. If the utilities want to expand emissions and production, it would force them to buy "carbon credits" from others who have managed to lower their emissions.

"Cap and trade is a tax — a great big one," Chaffetz said. "Americans deserve to know why their utility bills are going up. Cap and trade does nothing more than rob taxpayers, grossly enrich the federal treasury and make America less competitive on the global stage."

Meanwhile, Matheson — a leader of moderate "Blue Dog" Democrats — released standards that Blue Dogs say they will seek as climate change bills are finalized.

They call for: identifying targets that are truly achievable for renewable energy development, regional flexibility to address regional energy production shortfalls and grid congestion, and ensuring new federal standards allow for diverse fuel sources including, nuclear, clean coal, biomass, hydropower and waste heat.

"Federal policy should be flexible enough to reflect regional differences in our country, and it should encourage technological advancements without undue constraints," said Matheson, co-leader of the Blue Dog Energy Task Force.

He added, "The Blue Dogs want a reasonable policy that allows the power of the marketplace to achieve our energy goals."

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