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For Immediate Release
Contact: Bob Bonitati , LPPC | (703) 740-1754

July 15, 2003

LPPC TO CONGRESS: PASS CLEAR SKIES THIS YEAR

WASHINGTON, DC — Asserting that Clear Skies legislation will reduce the harmful effects of utility fuel switching on retail electricity customers and the economy, the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) urged House and Senate leaders to, "take up and pass the Clear Skies Act this year."

In letters to House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe, the LPPC reaffirmed their belief that, "Clear Skies represents a new paradigm for bringing cleaner air, sooner, at a lower cost.

Clear Skies will reduce fuel switching to natural gas by electric utilities and avoid harmful impacts on the economy and retail gas customers that might occur due to the volatile nature of gas availability and price," the LPPC told the House and Senate leaders. "Much work is still ahead and immediate action by Congress is essential if the nation is ever going to reap the benefits of the legislation. Although changes are needed, Clear Skies is a good platform from which final legislation may be crafted."

Similar letters urging passage of Clear Skies legislation were also sent to the ranking minority members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, as well as to President Bush. The LPPC urged Bush to make the legislative initiative "a top legislative priority" and asked that he "work harder to see that Congress acts to pass a Clear Skies Act this year. We stand ready to assist you," the LPPC told the President. "Please let us know what we can do to support your efforts to convince Congress to act now."

The Large Public Power Council has members in 11 states and some of the largest cities including Seattle, Orlando, Los Angeles, Memphis, Austin, Phoenix, and Jacksonville. LPPC members provide reliable, low-cost electricity to most of the 40 million people served by publicly owned utilities.

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