LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL H.J.R. 25
6 Approved for Filing: S. Elder 6
6 02-20-23 3:22 PM 6
1 JOINT RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTING THE HAZARDS OF
2 NET-ZERO ENERGY
3 2023 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Ken Ivory
6 Senate Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This resolution recognizes the threat that net-zero energy policies pose to affordable,
11 reliable, dispatchable, and secure energy for the state.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 < highlights the negatives of focusing on a net-zero energy policy including:
15 C increased costs;
16 C environmental damage;
17 C intermittent availability; and
18 C reliance on foreign governments; and
19 < emphasizes the positives that have been created by the use of traditional forms of
20 energy.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
23
24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
H.J.R. 25
25 WHEREAS, affordable, reliable, dispatchable, and secure energy is critical to the
26 security and prosperity of the United States and the State of Utah;
27 WHEREAS, energy policies that protect and enhance the utilization of domestic energy
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28 resources, such as hydrocarbons, nuclear power, critical minerals, and rare earth elements,
29 among others, are fundamental to affordable, reliable, dispatchable, and secure energy;
30 WHEREAS, the state's all-of-the-above energy policy prioritizes affordable, reliable,
31 dispatchable, and secure energy, through free-market competition that is technology and
32 resource neutral;
33 WHEREAS, any energy policy that prioritizes or mandates net-zero, intermittent, and
34 weather-dependent energy sources undermines affordable, reliable, dispatchable, and secure
35 energy and economic and national security;
36 WHEREAS, the use of batteries or hydrogen for short-term or long-term energy storage
37 reduces net energy efficiency, increases raw material dependency, and increases costs;
38 WHEREAS, any calculation of the full cost of net-zero energy policies must include
39 factors such as public resources and infrastructure, technical feasibility, energy reliability, grid
40 resilience, transmission, land requirements, jobs, environmental standards and impact, labor
41 and humanitarian standards, risk of geopolitical dependence, and resource availability,
42 including rare earth and critical minerals, fossil-fuel derived products, such as plastics,
43 lubricants, solvents, etc.;
44 WHEREAS, net-zero energy policies present critical challenges including lower
45 efficiency, decreased capacity, availability of essential minerals and other raw materials,
46 significant land usage, dependence on foreign countries, environmental hazards, and complex
47 recycling procedures;
48 WHEREAS, federal policies that mandate or incentivize weather-dependent wind,
49 solar, and battery energy production undermine the state's ability to provide affordable, reliable,
50 dispatchable, and secure energy to consumers and impede the state's duty to protect and defend
51 the health, safety, and welfare of Utah families and businesses;
52 WHEREAS, domestically produced, traditional forms of energy have a proven track
53 record of providing affordable, reliable, dispatchable, secure, durable, independent, and
54 environmentally safe alternatives;
55 WHEREAS, traditional forms of energy have enhanced the quality of life for billions
56 worldwide, including raising life expectancy and gross domestic product per capita and
57 increasing affordable food supplies that support a growing population;
58 WHEREAS, traditional energy sources, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, have reduced
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59 global energy prices, saving energy consumers trillions of dollars annually;
60 WHEREAS, the United States possesses an abundance of affordable, reliable, and
61 secure energy resources capable of meeting both domestic and global demand;
62 WHEREAS, in 2016, the U.S. Government Accountability Office testified to Congress
63 that there is more recoverable oil in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming than the rest of the world
64 combined;
65 WHEREAS, the United States is dependent upon imports for 90% of its uranium,
66 dependent upon the People's Republic of China for 80% of rare earth elements, and over 50%
67 dependent upon imports for 46 critical minerals at a time when net-zero energy policies are
68 projected to increase global demand for these minerals by 400% to 600%; and
69 WHEREAS, policies and practices that undermine hydrocarbons as a fuel source also
70 destroy the production, availability, and affordability of more than 6,000 fossil fuel derivative
71 products that are essential to health, life, and livelihood:
72 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
73 recognizes the growing threat to the state's affordable, reliable, dispatchable, and secure energy
74 from net-zero energy policies that mandate predominantly foreign-sourced, intermittent, and
75 weather-dependent forms of electricity generation.
76 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah supports all
77 forms of energy production that are affordable, reliable, and dispatchable, and have a secure,
78 domestic supply of minerals, materials, and resources.
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