Gary Herbert on Energy & Oil

Make commuting by transit as easy as commuting by car

We need to boldly reimagine our roads to safely accommodate cars, mass transit, bikes, pedestrians, and even those scooters. We should make commuting by transit as easy as commuting by car. In my budget, I set aside a $34 million down payment toward improvements in heavy rail, light rail, and bus transit.

State can set example on green energy

Utah is energy-independent; now export oil & nuclear

Last year I called for the development of a ten-year strategic energy plan for Utah. Our reliance upon traditional fuels is being challenged. Yes, renewable energies such as wind, solar, and geothermal, will play an expanding and important role. However, the "base load"--the very foundation of Utah's energy-will, most assuredly, be provided by either fossil or nuclear fuels. Every state has to face that simple reality.

Develop natural gas resources while protecting local culture

No importation of foreign nuclear waste into Utah

Stop harmful EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

We feel compelled to guard against a regulatory approach that would increase the cost of electricity and gasoline prices, manufactured products, and ultimately harm the competitiveness of the US economy. As governors, we strongly urge Congress to stop harmful EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could damage those vital interests. We ask that Congress continue its work to pass comprehensive legislation that balances the role of conservation and climate security with the production of abundant and affordable American energy. The EPA has initiated efforts to impose greenhouse gas regulations that could be harmful to our economies at an especially critical time. As Governors, we are gravely concerned about such regulation.

EPA is not equipped to consider the very real potential for economic harm when regulating emissions. Without that consideration, regulation will place heavy administrative burdens on state environmental quality agencies, will be costly to consumers, and could be devastating to the economy and jobs.

We believe that EPA should offer input regarding complex energy and environmental policy initiatives, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but feel that these policies are best developed by elected representatives at the state and national level, not by a single federal agency. There is no question that broad bipartisan support exists to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while taking into consideration the difficult fiscal situation that our states and the nation face.