Utah Chapter Sierra Club - Support Gov. Huntsman

According to recent newspaper stories, certain state legislators and some power providers are working to oppose Governor Huntsman's recent decision to join the Western Climate Initiative and other efforts he has initiated to address climate change, including developing a renewable energy standard. (See Salt Lake Tribune articles at http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_6363706 and http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6409588 and Deseret News article at http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,695193267,00.html)

Please consider writing a newspaper editorial or letter to your legislator expressing your support of Governor Huntsman's climate change and renewable energy efforts. These include:

Signing on to the Western Climate Initiative - www.eere.energy.gov/states/news_detail.cfm/news_id=10987
Joining The Climate Registry - www.theclimateregistry.org
Formation of the Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change - www.deq.utah.gov/BRAC_Climate/index.htm
Establishing the Renewable Energy Initiative Focus Group http://www.deq.utah.gov/Issues/REIFG/index.htm

To write a letter to:
Salt Lake Tribune, visit http://www.sltrib.com/opinion.
Deseret News, visit http://deseretnews.com/dn/edt/0,1555,,00.html.
Provo Daily Herald, visit http://www.heraldextra.com/component/option,performs/formid,1
Standard Examiner, visit http://www.standard.net/live/opinion/submitaletter

To find contact information for your state legislators, visit:
http://www.le.state.ut.us/documents/aboutthelegislature/getinvolved.htm

Points to consider in your comments:

With coal providing 95% of Utah's electricity, the Governor is right in wanting to lesson our greenhouse gas footprint.
He is also right for wanting to diversify our energy portfolio in order to see the economic benefits, increased energy security, and expanded job base with clean energy industries (renewables and efficiency).
Utah's electric rates are cheap today but they will not be that way tomorrow. With such a heavy reliance on one resource, we are very vulnerable to market volatility, hence the need to diversify.
The Western Climate Initiative will require Utah to adopt tougher tailpipe emission standards similar to California's, which could help tremendously towards improved air quality.
The train to a new era is leaving. If Utah doesn't get on board, we will be left at the station.

For more information, contact:

Tim Wagner
Utah Smart Energy Campaign
Utah Chapter Sierra Club
2159 So. 700 E., SLC, UT 84106
office: 801-467-9294
cell: 801-5025450
tim.wagner@sierraclub.org
http://www.utah.sierraclub.org

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