Legislative Recap from Malin Moench
Before the legislative session officially wrapped up at the end of last week, Malin Moench had an op-ed published in the Tribune. The op-ed discusses how recent federal legislative actions have made pursuing clean energy sources more cost effective than continuing to use fossil fuels. The cost of the transition has been the main argument against switching to cleaner sources for years. So now that it’s cheaper, the legislature should be supporting the transition, right?
Wrong. “They are forcing taxpayers to pick up Rocky Mountain Power’s legal bills as it fights for its right to pollute (an appropriations request from Rep. Carl Albrecht). Condemning any clean air regulations that would burden Utah’s coal-fired power plants (HCR9, sponsored by Rep. Mike Schultz and Sen. Evan Vickers). Pulling the plug on state incentives to build renewable power plants (HB407, sponsored by Rep. Kay Kristofferson). Shifting fuel taxes from dirty gas cars to clean electric vehicles (HB301, sponsored by Schultz),” Moench writes.
While little can be done about these backward-thinking bills now that the session has ended, we urge you to pay attention to which legislators have Utah’s best interest in mind, and which have their heads in the sand.
“The Legislature sits on a $2 billion surplus. It could easily take a third of that surplus and purchase enough agricultural water rights to save Great Salt Lake for decades to come. What has it done? So far, it has earmarked one one-hundredth of the surplus ($15 million) to take that essential step.
If you ever have to call 911 to report that your house is on fire, be glad our legislators wouldn’t be driving the fire truck. If they were, likely as not, they would jump in the truck, race to your house, and spray gasoline on the smoldering blaze,” as Moench puts it.