Iowans for Responsible Energy Policy (Sierra Club is a member)

News Release


Coalition Welcomes Vilsack Statement
On Utility Legislation


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   Contact:  Jan
Laue,
June 5, 2001                                                       Iowa
Federation of Labor

(515) 262-9571

Iowans for Responsible Energy Policy (IREP) supports, as a significant
first
step towards development of a comprehensive Iowa energy policy, Governor

Vilsack's statements that "we need to find issues of consensus, and we
can
find that in the electric generation and joint financing aspects of the
bill" and that "other issues not directly related to increased
generation,
such as power purchase contracts should be put on hold until the next
legislative session..."

IREP has consistently called for the removal of the power purchase
section
from House File 577, as the proposed section has nothing to do with
generation or with building power plants, and would only result in
higher
prices for consumers and a deregulated market for any new power built in

Iowa.  However, we have always said that the siting section is workable
and
that the joint financing section is supportable.

IREP also supports Lt. Governor Peterson's statements that "we support
new
generation as long as construction occurs in Iowa and benefits Iowans."

At the present time, a special energy task force, which Governor Vilsack

created, is working toward developing a comprehensive energy plan for
Iowa.
The task force, which consists of leaders from both the private and
public
sectors, is considering all aspects of the energy infrastructure,
including
the role of power purchase contract.  Consequently, waiting for the
results
of their report will allow legislators to make a fully informed decision
on
power purchase contracts, instead of rushing through potentially harmful

legislation in a special session.

Governor Vilsack's and Lt. Governor Peterson's statements point
legislators
in the right direction to deal with Iowa's energy needs.

Iowans for Responsible Energy Policy is a coalition of consumer, senior,

labor, faith and environmental organizations with a combined membership
of
over half a million Iowans.

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