Clear skies.

WORKING DRAFT
2005
STATE OF WYOMING
05LSO-0688

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0008

Clear skies.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Anderson, R. and Lockhart and Senator(s) Townsend

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION encouraging the United States Congress to pass the Clear Skies Act of 2003.

WHEREAS, the federal government has introduced legislation, called the Clear Skies Act, to reduce SO
2
, NO
x
and mercury from coal-fired plants; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming produces over 1/3 of the nation's coal supply which supplies affordable electricity to many areas of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming has a vested interest in a regulatory program that is fair, predictable and provides certainty; and

WHEREAS, electric power providers have significantly reduced air emissions, but additional reductions are needed in parts of the United States to help achieve air quality goals; and

WHEREAS, implementation of the Clean Air Act's multiple, overlapping requirements could be streamlined to facilitate greater, more efficient and more certain emission reductions, that would reduce litigation that often causes significant delays in achieving air quality goals; and

WHEREAS, a new federal emission reduction program could help to resolve regional and national air quality challenges, interstate environmental conflicts and reduce inconsistencies between state programs; and

WHEREAS, the implications of any emission reduction programs on consumer energy prices and electric power reliability must be factored into policy decisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

That Wyoming calls for the United States Congress to pass multi-emission legislation in 2005 that significantly reduces emissions of SO
2
, NO
x
and mercury from electric power generators and helps the nation toward attainment of federal air quality standards without impacting the Wyoming coal industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final multi-emission reduction program should maintain and encourage a diverse fuel supply that will benefit states and local communities, consumers and manufacturers, as well as maintain and promote electric power reliability, availability and affordability, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that reductions under such a program should be achieved using a market-based approach patterned after the successful Clean Air Act acid rain program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such a program should streamline Clean Air Act provisions given that SO
2
, NO
x
and mercury emissions caps will substantially reduce the amount of emissions from electric power facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Wyoming urges that the Clear Skies Act set an interim target for mercury reduction based upon the co-benefit of installing technology for SO
2
and NO
x
, and that any debate over regulating CO
2
should be held in a separate forum; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the legislation provide fair allocations of SO
2,
NO
x
and mercury to sources in Wyoming; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED,
that the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation and
the Governor of Wyoming and other local officials, as is appropriate.

(END)

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HJ0008