ACTION ALERT

Lyle Krewson reports the industry supporters of Electric Utility
Deregulation are lobbying hard at the legislature today.  This bill could
be debated in the Iowa HOUSE tomorrow (Tuesday).

Please contact your Representative immediately and urge them to vote NO on
the Deregulation Bill.

Copied below is Lyle's recent letter-to-the-editor and also an alert from
the Iowa Environmental Council.

Spread the word!
Thanks,
Jane Clark
==================================================
The Electric Utility Deregulation bill now being considered in the Iowa
Senate will not help or protect Iowa¹s environment.

The present version leaves hardly any funding for energy efficiency
programs. The $38 million now being spent by utility companies on current
energy efficiency measures would end, to be replaced by as little as $3
million in energy efficiency programs by the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (DNR).

The bill is purported by its proponents to encourage the development, in
Iowa, of greater renewable energy, like wind power, biomass or other
sources. Some funds are set aside for that purpose. But if a renewable
producer gets a grant from those funds, that producer has to sell that
power
to retail electric companies for less than the price of coal-produced
electricity. That's right they must sell their clean power for less than
dirty coal power!

Energy efficiency remains the very best way to reduce damaging impacts on
our environment. Proponents are saying the Electric Utility Deregulation
bill in the Senate is good for the environment. That¹s bull feathers!

As it is now, the bill does not help or protect Iowa¹s environment. We
should kill the deregulation bill this year and try again next year.

Lyle Krewson
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
Lobbyist
6403 Aurora Avenue #3
Des Moines, IA 50322-2862
[log in to unmask]
515/276-8947 - Phone/Fax
===================================================
Send your legislators a variation of the enclosed sample letter or write
your own letter.

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 as him to support strong alternative
energy and energy conservation in the bill: 515/281-5211.

ANOTHER 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.

        Energy efficiency and renewable energy programs are significantly
underfunded in the proposed legislation. A fund for these 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.

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