Utah moves to sue Calif. over fee on coal power

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers gave initial approval Monday to a proposal that would set aside $2 million to sue California over rules that make coal-fired power more expensive.

The proposal from Republican Rep. Mike Noel passed through a subcommittee with only one Democratic lawmaker raising objections.

It marked the latest attempt by the state’s GOP leadership to help a struggling coal industry that is key to economies in several central Utah counties.

Noel said California’s policy is hurting coal miners in his rural district and violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause.

He said the taxpayer money is a small price to pay for standing up to what he calls “California’s war on Utah coal.”

California utilities pay an extra $15 per megawatt hour to buy power from Utah’s coalfired Intermountain Power Plant.

“They’re trying to put their values on us,” Noel said.

Sen. David Hinkins, a Republican who represents several of the state’s counties most dependent on coal production, called on his fellow lawmakers to make a stand.

“The next thing it will be the pork produced in the state,” Hinkins said. “It would be like us saying we don’t want to take California almonds or California oranges but we’ll take them from Florida.”

California regulators and environmental groups disagree.

California Air Resources Board spokesman Stanley Young said in an emailed statement that the state’s system is not singling out Utah.