Dear Representative: The Electric Utility Deregulation bill, with the Wise Amendment, now being considered in the Iowa House will not help or protect Iowašs 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, with the Wise Amendment, 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 House is good for the environment. Thatšs bull feathers! As it is now, the bill, with the Wise Amendment, does not help or protect Iowašs environment. We should kill the deregulation bill this year and try again next year. Lyle Krewson Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter Lobbyist ____________________________________________ Lyle Krewson 6403 Aurora Avenue #3 Des Moines, IA 50322-2862 [log in to unmask] 515/276-8947 - Phone/Fax ____________________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]