SALT LAKE CITY -- President Barack Obama's new plan to cut pollution discharged by America's power plants promises to be a focal point of discussions as business and government officials gather in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
About 1,200 people are scheduled to attend Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's third-annual Energy Development Summit, which features industry booths, panel discussions and speeches from the governor and others.
The new rules the Obama administration unveiled Monday would cut national carbon dioxide emissions from power plants 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. It would require Utah, which relies on coal for 80 percent of its electricity, to cut coal-generated emissions by nearly as much.
The regulations are the focus of at least two of the day's panels, said Jeffrey Barrett, assistant director at the governor's Office of Energy Development.
"I believe it will be a pretty hot topic of discussion," Barrett said. "What that means for the state, what our opportunities are, what our concerns are."
Herbert's energy adviser, Cody Stewart, earlier this week called the plan "bold and aggressive." Stewart, who is scheduled to speak on a panel Wednesday, praised the plan for giving states flexibility but said Utah officials need more details.
Another issue likely to come up is the push by Utah and other Western states to get more control over federal lands. Utah legislators passed a 2012 law that demands the federal government transfer control of much of Utah's public lands to the state before next year. The federal government owns about two-thirds of Utah's land.
Barrett said the initiative is a priority for Herbert, who is likely to address it during his midday speech.
The Republican governor has said in the past that he believes Utah can nurture the outdoors industry while developing energy from natural resources. The outdoor recreation industry adds an estimated $5.8 billion to Utah's economy every year and is a vital component of Utah's identity and lifestyle, Herbert said.
But critics say Herbert leans toward oil and gas development, pointing to the fact that his energy adviser, Stewart, is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist for the oil and gas industry.
The conference is designed to bring together the most important decision-makers in government and private businesses from several Western states to help shape future policy, Barrett said. Many state legislators will be there, as well as U.S. Reps. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and Chris Stewart, R-Utah.
"It's rare that all these folks are in the same room thinking big picture," Barrett said.
Follow Brady McCombs at http://bit.ly/1hZpLHo .
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