Senate amends energy policy bill to add biodiesel language and study of nuclear power

Senators debated and amended the third substitute of House Bill 46, Utah's energy policy bill, during a floor presentation that emphasized multi‑party consensus and months of subtask‑group work.

Senator Bell, the floor sponsor, said the measure was the result of extensive stakeholder work and called it a consensus bill. Senator Jenkins offered Amendment No. 1 (dated 02/17/2006) that would insert language to promote biomass and biodiesel, and separately to ‘‘promote the study of nuclear power generation.’’ Senator McCoy proposed a substitute aimed at preserving biodiesel language while removing the nuclear language. The body granted a division of the motion and voted on the nuclear‑study paragraph and the biodiesel insertion as separate items.

Both parts of the divided motion passed on the floor: the chamber voted to adopt the study‑of‑nuclear‑generation language and separately approved inclusion of biodiesel/biofuel promotion. After a brief floor display/demonstration related to wind energy, the Senate moved to final passage of the third substitute House Bill 46 as amended; the bill passed and was referred back to the House for further action.

What was adopted: the amendment inserts biodiesel (and related renewable fuels) into the policy text and also adds a sentence directing the state to promote study of nuclear power generation. Sponsors described biodiesel as an established renewable option and said the nuclear study language would encourage research partnerships with state institutions.

What's next: The amended bill will be transmitted back to the House for concurrence and enrollment processes.