The contrast on climate change was stark.
At Salt Lake City's downtown library Tuesday, scientists huddled with state water officials to wrestle with how global warming might shrink Utah's water supply.
Just blocks away, on Capitol Hill, state House members adopted a resolution, 51-19, urging Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to pull Utah from the multistate Western Climate Initiative.
The nonbinding measure, sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, is intended to send a message to Utah's chief executive that he overstepped his bounds by participating in energy policy that could affect the economic health of many of the state's businesses.
"I do not believe in man-caused global warming," Noel said, voicing opposition to cap-and-trade programs and also taking a swipe at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and other eco-minded groups, dubbing them radical elitists who sue the state rather than engage in dialogue.
"Utah's power is 96 percent coal-fired," Noel said. "When we cap carbon, we'll be injured. Renewable energy, however beneficial, will cost more money."
Noel's HR3 isn't about to sway Huntsman to bolt from the climate alliance.
"Governor Huntsman has felt that being part of WCI has given Utah an important seat at the table where critical issues affecting the state's future are being discussed," spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said. "We'll continue to have those discussions."
Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, questioned Noel's broad-brush perspective.
"When you talk about dialogue, do the so-called radical environmentalists, such as Utah Moms for Clean Air, have a seat at that table?" Litvack asked.
Noel said he was unaware of that group.
At the library symposium, University of Utah climate scientist Thomas Reichler discussed his latest findings that show:
» Utah can expect to see about 5 percent to 10 percent less water in the summer over the next century and a 5 percent to 10 percent jump in water during the winter.
» In the summer, temperatures around the state will rise around 7 degrees. And, with winter temperatures about 3 degrees warmer, less precipitation will fall as snow.
Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, opposed Noel's resolution.
"My constituents want us to continue to participate in the Western Climate Initiative," Chavez-Houck said. "That gives us a vote at the table."
But Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden, sided with the Kanab lawmaker.
"It's our job to make policy and the governor's job to implement it," Gibson said. "It's appropriate for us to send the message that we should change course."
Tribune reporter Judy Fahys contributed to this story.
