From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Environmentalists Respond to Clinton's Choice for Energy Secretary
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 08:53:17 GMT

Here is a press release from several environmental groups.

 Environmentalists Respond to President-elect Clinton Choice
for Energy Secretary
 To: National Desk, Environment and Energy writer
 Contact: Phil Sparks of the Communication Consortium,
          202-682-1270;
          Randall Swisher of the American Wind Energy
          Association, 202-408-8988;
          Marc Ledbetter of the American Council for an
          Energy-Efficient Economy, 202-429-8873;
          Scott Denman of the Safe Energy Communication
          Council, 202-483-8491

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 21  --  As President-elect Clinton 
announced his choice of Hazel Rollins O'Leary to be
Secretary of Energy today the environmental community urged
O'Leary to carefully consider a broad range of energy efficiency
and renewable energy initiatives contained in the community's
Sustainable Energy Blueprint.
   Issued in late November to the Clinton/Gore transition team
and the new Congress, the Energy Blueprint was endorsed by more
than 85 environmental organizations including the Natural
Resources Defense Council, Friends of the Earth and Environmental
Action.
   The Blueprint urged a redirection of U.S. energy policy,
stressing energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and
moving away from a reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power.
Below are response statements from leading environmentalists:

   Statement of Randall Swisher, executive director, American
Wind Energy Association:
   "We are encouraged by the appointment of Hazel O'Leary, who
happens to serve as senior executive of one of our member
utilities.  Northern States Power (NSP) has stood out within the
utility industry in its innovative attitudes toward renewable
energy and energy efficiency.  Within the last year, NSP has
announced its intention to add 100 MW of wind capacity to its
system, and is currently evaluating bidders for the first 25 MW
which it hopes to have on line by 1994.  If the project proceeds
on schedule, NSP would become owner of what at that time would be
the largest utility-owned windfarm in the U.S.
   "It will take strong, capable leadership to redefine the
riorities of the Department of Energy in keeping with the
campaign promises of the Clinton-Gore campaign to place greater
emphasis on renewable energy, energy efficiency and natural gas.
Hazel O'Leary appears to be someone with the competence and
experience to get the job done."

   Statement of Marc Ledbetter, energy policy analyst, American
Council for An Energy-efficient Economy:
   "We know little about Hazel O'Leary, but our expectations are
high.  She has been nominated by a president- and vice
president-elect who have made clear their intentions to seriously
address greenhouse gas emissions and long-term domestic economic
problems.  Doing both will require a strong commitment to
improving energy efficiency, which Ms. O'Leary, as energy
secretary, will have to lead."

   Statement of Scott Denman, executive director of the Safe
Energy Communication Council:
   "Mrs. O'Leary will bring considerable energy policy expertise to
the Clinton team. Her major challenge will be to fulfill Clinton's
campaign promise to shift federal energy policy support toward energy
efficiency and renewable energy resources, and away from the
traditional bias for nuclear power and fossil fuels.
   "Hazel O'Leary will now represent the American people instead of
utility stockholders. We are optimistic that she will be an agent of
change in her new role.
   "Currently the executive vice-president of Northern States Power
(NSP), the Minnesota utility, Mrs. O'Leary is a supporter of
conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy resources as
well as the development of utility incentives for such programs. Her
career includes a distinguished career with the Department of Energy;
her background in utility demand side management programs could be a
valuable asset in helping the new administration exploit their vast
economic and jobs-producing potential."
 -30-
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