LPPC - Representing the public interest on national energy issues

Return to Press Release Index

For Immediate Release
Contact: Walt Bussells
904-665-6441

March 28, 2001

Public Power Officials Urge Bush Administration
To Take Host Of Actions On Energy Crisis

Washington, D.C. — The CEOs of the largest community-owned and operated electricity providers in the nation met today with Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham to provide the White House Energy Task Force with their recommendations for the development of a national energy strategy.

Representatives of the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) urged the Bush Administration to streamline and modernize Federal regulations that serve as barriers to providing efficient and affordable electric power to all Americans.

"The foundation of a strong national energy policy is fuel diversity," said LPPC Chairman Walt Bussells (who serves as CEO of the Jacksonville Electric Authority). "We strongly support enhanced, environmentally responsible development of all energy resources including coal, hydro, renewables, nuclear, efficiency, and emerging sources such as fuel cells.

In response to national concerns about adequacy of electric supplies, Bussells said "as the national supply/demand situation becomes increasingly strained, it is critically important that existing capacity be preserved, and that every effort be made to encourage increased conservation and to develop new resources."

The utility executives presented Secretary Abraham with a wide-ranging memo outlining recommendations and proposed policy changes that the LPPC believes should be part of a comprehensive national energy strategy.

The policy memo suggests the Bush Administration join public power systems in:

Promoting fuel diversity as key to a national energy strategy;
Encouraging energy efficiency and conservation.
Supporting incentives for the development and use of renewable energy sources;
Supporting coal and nuclear power as continued important parts of America's energy strategy, including continued and expanded investment in clean coal technology;
Ensuring we can continue to utilize and expand hydro resources by reforming the tedious process of re-licensing.
Funding valuable development of emerging technologies such as fuel cells and distributed generation (DG);
Ensuring that environmental policies flow from an integrated energy strategy that includes a diverse fuel mix.

To immediately address the crisis in the West, LPPC members told Secretary Abraham, the Administration should insist that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) takes "whatever steps are needed to ensure that wholesale rates are 'just and reasonable'" and put effective market power mitigation measures in place prior to the energy costly summer season. The group outlined additional steps as well.

"Our nation's power problems won't go away on their own," Bussells said. "But we pledged to continue to work closely with Secretary Abraham, Vice President Cheney and others, so America can plan for a more efficient and sound power future."

LPPC members attending the meeting with Secretary Abraham included CEOs Walt Bussells from Jacksonville Electric Authority, Mark Crisson of Tacoma Public Utilities and Gary Zarker of Seattle City Light. Representatives were also present from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) of Central Texas, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

###