A source said that Murkowski staffers have implied the Chairman will hold hearings, but then refuse to schedule a mark-up by citing a lack of consensus. At the meeting, CEG announced that it backed full disclosure of hazardous air pollutants released by electric utilities and nationwide standards for mercury emissions from electric generators. Under court order, EPA must decide whether to limit power plant air toxic emissions by December 2000. In June of 2000, the National Academy of Science will complete an 18-month review of acceptable mercury levels in the air. This will allow for more direct input from rural and farm constituencies and greater accountability.
States can better serve the local communities without local interference.
Goldberg stressed the importance of not mandating date-specific provisions or market restrictions on existing electrical power companies. He believes that restructuring could survive only if it lowers utility prices and spurs new products and services, does not include specific enactment dates, allows states to take the lead in the implementation of electricity restructuring legislation, allows affiliates to use the name and logo of parent companies, and is not used as a way to amend the Clean Air Act or as a back-door method of implementing the global climate change treaty. The FTC feels that the proposal could negatively impact vertical and horizontal competition and increase potential energy-efficiency benefits, and argues that an ISO will ensure the balance of market power. On June 3, the Sustainable Energy Coalition, a group of 35 national businesses as well as environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations, released the results of a national public opinion survey supporting renewable energy and enhanced energy efficiency. The city shifted away from fossil fuel and nuclear power and now uses much cleaner geothermal sources.