|
|
Enron Mail |
Mark/Kelly:
Attached is an article on Enron and our "Clean Power Group" coalition on multipollutant Clean Air Act legislation. This is much more accurate than the WSJ article that ran last Friday, particularly on the point of CO2 caps. If you receive further follow-up calls or inquiries from reporters, please feel free to refer them to me. If they really want a "coalition" source, you can give them Joel Bluestein's number at Energy & Environmental Analysis -- 703-528-1900. Jeff ************ Electric Power Daily - May 8, 2001 Companies work to design plan for regulating air pollutants A coalition of energy companies is devising a framework for regulating air pollutants in a way that encourages new technologies and protects the environment without requiring exorbitant investments, but whether there is momentum for a regulatory overhaul remains to be seen, according to one consultant to the group. Enron, El Paso Corp., Trigen, Calpine and NiSource are working on a multipollutant strategy to replace the "piecemeal" regulatory scheme at the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury emissions from power plants, said Joel Bluestein, president of Energy and Environmental Analysis in Arlington, Va. The coalition's approach could include carbon dioxide emissions if EPA moves to regulate that pollutant, he said. The coalition is meeting with lawmakers, the administration and industry leaders in effort to garner support, said Bluestein. "We can have secure diverse energy supply and a strong economy if we structure the regulatory system properly," said Bluestein. "What we are trying to do is present a framework to ensure a clean environment with less regulation, to promote new technologies and all fuels-including conservation and renewables, gas and coal-[and] to provide the energy we need at reasonable prices." The industry hoped to capitalize on momentum last year to move the federal government toward a comprehensive yet flexible emissions reduction program, but when President Bush reversed his campaign position supporting restrictions on CO2 in a multipollutant approach, that "changed the landscape a little bit," said Bluestein. Still, he said, the "same drivers are still there." EPA has an acid rain program to address SO2 and a state implementation plan program to curb NOx and in December it announced plans to develop mercury emission restrictions for power plants. The agency does not regulate CO2. Jeffrey Keeler Director, Environmental Strategies Enron Washington DC office - (202) 466-9157 Cell Phone (203) 464-1541
|