The state would have guidelines for developing energy resources and initiatives for car pools and public transportation under a bill passed by a Senate committee Monday.

The Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee unanimously approved the bill that would establish future energy policies, sending it to the Senate floor for debate. The House already passed it.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, said the bill is the result of a collaborative effort over the summer by groups interested in the future of Utah's energy, including the state Public Service Commission, Utah Power, the Sierra Club and Utah Wind Power.

The bill promotes the development of cost-effective energy resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, and energy-saving initiatives including car pools, public transportation and educational programs supporting energy-efficent measures.

Kevin Boardman, director of government affairs for Utah Power, said establishing specific energy policy is important to help the government deal with future energy decisions in Utah. "There is going to be a lot of tough energy decisions to be made in terms of energy use. This kind of sets the guidelines, or parameters, that we're going to be working by."

Boardman also said the bill's language promotes a variety of alternate fuels including natural gas, hybrid gasoline and electric motors. Shifting from Utah's dependence on coal would help meet the growing demands of consumers for reliable power at reasonable costs.

Dave Eskelson, a spokesman for Utah Power, said over the past few years Utah Power observed a general growth in base load, the amount of energy used around the clock, and the peak load, the amount of energy used from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. "As we watch those two numbers, the base load has increased 2 percent, and the peak load has increased 5 percent. By those two measures, we have brisk growth in Utah."

If passed into law, the bill would also create a position for a state energy officer who advises the government on energy matters and annually proposes updates to the state's energy policy.

First Substitute HB 46: Energy Policy Amendments

Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville

This bill would establish a state energy officer and an energy policy.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.