If emission standards were relaxed, the industry said, it could deliver 20 percent more coal-fired power within three years. The directors of California's electricity grid declared a Stage 3 power alert and ordered rolling blackouts. The state's energy czar looks at causes of and cures for deregulation woes. Environmental groups Monday denounced the White House Energy Task Force, led by Vice President Dick Cheney, as nothing more than a handout to Big Coal, Oil and Gas. It's a way to go behind closed doors and sit down with oil and coal industry and utility lobbyists and come up with what is supposed to be a plan for the nation.
Republican lawmakers have their own concerns with the upcoming policy.
Their complaint is that it focuses too much on the long term, offering little protection for next year's elections. They may apply pressure in Congress to add on some of those quick fixes rejected by the White House. MMI Viacom Internet Services Inc., All Rights Reserved. CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved.