The Utah House voted Wednesday to urge the governor to back out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative of states and Canadian provinces that some lawmakers say is working toward a cap-and-trade carbon economy that will cost their coal-fueled state too much.

Former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who left to become U.S. ambassador to China, entered into the initiative. Now HJR21, a resolution sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, asks Gov. Gary Herbert to withdraw.

"Everybody knows Utah is highly dependent on fossil fuel power," Noel said during a debate on the initiative Wednesday.

Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Holladay, said even those who doubt climate change science or oppose cap-and-trade should reject the resolution and keep the state in the initiative.

"If we walk away from the table we don't have the voice that we do sitting at the table," Hemingway said.

Others said they don't want to participate in any discussions leading to carbon taxes or other costs for addressing climate change. The resolution passed 52-18 and now goes to the Senate.