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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Two Utah lawmakers are mixing business with politics -- but say they see no conflicts of interest.
Republican representatives Aaron Tilton of Springville and Mike Noel of Kanab co-chair the committee studying nuclear power plant construction legislation. Both men have ties to the Transition Power Development Group which wants to build a plant in southern Utah.
Tilton is an owner in the company. Noel is executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District which has already cut a multimillion dollar deal with Transition Power for water rights.
Tilton has disclosed business dealings in energy projects in the past, but only this week made public his ties to Transition Power. He says there's no conflict because nuclear power isn't regulated in Utah.
Noel also says there's no conflict in chairing a committee that could determine Transition's fate, even though his employer stands to make millions if lawmakers support plant construction.
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Information from: The Deseret Morning News
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)