Legislature wants Utah out of climate group

SALT LAKE CITY

The Utah Legislature has passed a resolution urging Gov. Gary Herbert to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, an alliance of several Western states and Canadian provinces working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Senate voted 19-8 to approve House Joint Resolution 21 on Thursday, advancing it to the governor's office.

A spokeswoman for Herbert has said the governor plans to stay in the Western Climate Initiative.

Resolution sponsor Rep. Michael Noel has argued that some of the science behind climate change is incomplete.

The Republican from Kanab is concerned about the economic effects of greenhouse gas regulations, especially in the state's resource-rich regions.

Noel has called some proposals on environmental regulation like cap-and-trade "draconian."