From Iowa Citizen's Action Network
Posted by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask]

*** Action Alert:  OPPOSE HF 577 ***

House File 577, a bill that threatens Iowa's consumers, environment and
workers, is back.  It will be brought up for debate during a special session
of the Iowa General Assembly.  The special session will begin June 19, 2001.
 CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR, AND TELL HIM/HER TO OPPOSE HF 577.

BACKGROUND:
-- It is agreed by all that Iowa needs new electrical generating capacity in
order to avoid electricity shortfalls in the years to come.
-- However, Iowa's investor-owned utilities, Mid American and Alliant, don't
want to build more power plants in Iowa unless they can make more than the
12% profit they are currently guaranteed.
-- HF 577 would enable Mid-American and Alliant to bypass oversight of the
Iowa Utilities Board, which regulates Iowa's utilities, and charge consumers
whatever they like.
-- HF 577 eliminates provisions that require energy efficiency programs to
be in place before building new power plants.

THE ALTERNATIVE:
-- Iowa needs a comprehensive energy policy to tackle the issue of energy
shortfalls.  The Governor's Task Force on Energy has been working since
September 2000 to access Iowa's energy situation and to develop
recommendations to the Governor on a comprehensive energy policy.
-- Energy efficiency and renewable energy development must be made a
priority for the state of Iowa.  Energy efficiency is often the cheapest and
most practical alternative to building a new power plant.  Yet, important
energy efficiency provisions are eliminated in HF 577.  Efficiency and
renewable energy should be at the cornerstone of a comprehensive energy
policy.
-- The Iowa Legislature should WAIT FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON ENERGY, and pass a comprehensive energy policy in
the next regular session .

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
-- Tell your legislators to oppose HF 577 in the special session and to
support a comprehensive energy policy that emphasizes energy efficiency and
renewable energy in the next regular session of the General Assembly.
--E-MAIL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE.  All senators and
representatives have an e-mail address in the following format: the first
name, followed by an underscore, followed by the last name and then
@legis.state.ia.us  For example, Representative Gary Blodgett's e-mail
address is [log in to unmask]

-- YOU CAN ALSO CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE.  Because
the legislature is currently out of session you will need to call them at
home.  You can get their home phone number from the Iowa General Assembly's
web site.  To obtain the phone number of your senator, go to
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/Senate/Members/ and click on your
senator's name.  To obtain the phone number of your representative, go to
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/House/Members/ and click on your
representative's name.

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