From the Iowa Environmental Council, forwarded by Jane Clark at
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The Iowa Legislature is moving quickly to deregulate the electric utility
industry.

**This legislation will have detrimental effects on all Iowans if it is
enacted into law in its current form.**

Contact your legislator immediately with your support for strong
environmental provisions in the proposed legislation (HF 740 and SSB 3002).

Send your legislators a variation of the enclosed sample letter or write
your own letter. Send a cc of your letter to the Iowa Environmental Council
at <[log in to unmask]>.

Your legislator's email address is <[log in to unmask]>.
For example, <[log in to unmask]>. For other contact information,
visit <http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Members/78GA-members.html>.

Also: please call Governor Vilsack and support his position on alternative
energy and energy conservation in the bill: 515/281-5211.

See <http://www.earthweshare.org> for a factsheet on electric utility
deregulation.
(Two articles from previous Sierran newsletters are available on e-mail by
contacting [log in to unmask])


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear :

I respectfully urge you to include strong environmental protection
provisions in the bill that deregulates electric utilities. This
legislation will have detrimental effects on all Iowans if it is enacted
into law in its current form.
        The state policy goal for renewable energy is 10 percent renewable
power by 2015. This is called a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and
means that a certain percentage of the company's generating mix must come
from renewable sources. The proposed legislation does contain new "goals"
for renewable energy, but they are not enforceable standards.

The legislation must contain an RPS of 12 percent by 2010.

        Energy efficiency and renewable energy programs are significantly
underfunded in the proposed legislation. A fund for these programs must be
included in the legislation. This fund should include $77 million for
energy efficiency programs and renewable energy incentives to be
administered by the DNR; $2 million for emission reductions at existing
coal plants to be administered by the Iowa energy center at Iowa State
University; and $2.5 million for the energy centers at the three state
universities. A total fund of $81.5 million for environmental programs must
be included in the legislation.
        Combustion of fossil fuels is seriously damaging Iowa's air
quality. We must make sure that this bill includes strong environmental
protection measures to decrease our reliance on harmful fossil fuels and
increase energy efficiency.
        Thank you.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS

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