A coalition of public health, environmental and energy organizations wrote Chairman Bliley urging him to include three important provisions. Successful electric industry restructuring legislation needs to include three major provisions a renewables portfolio standard a public benefits trust fund .and emissions reduction standards. Whether Commerce Committee Chairman Bliley can pull together a consensus around a new restructuring bill remains uncertain. There is little doubt, however, that the Chairman will continue to press hard and is likely to achieve at least full Committee action this year. What form a bill out of the full Commerce Committee will take is unclear.
Many significant issues remain unresolved in the discussions actively taking place.
S.2098, on February 24th and is planning legislative hearings starting April 11. GEA's Vice President for Domestic Policy, Jonathan Weisgall, and Executive Director, Karl Gawell, have asked to present testimony at these hearings. As Chairman of the Energy Committee, Senator Murkowski has embarked upon a process that seeks to determine if a consensus is possible. We look forward to the task ahead. It will call for the examination of this bill, as a comprehensive bill, to try to address the various concerns, as well as take up the other bills.