Transcript Washington View - Huntingdon College

Washington Update
Topics
 Who We Are
 Our Approach in Washington
 Environmental Politics
 A Decade of Debate on Industry Structure
 Questions?
Who we are
Buzz Miller
Ray Harry (Environment)
Adam Lawrence (Tax and Financial Policy/Senate D’s)
Jim McCool (Telecom, HR/Core Delegation)
John Pemberton (Environment/Senate R’s)
Mike Riith (Nuclear, Hydro, Rail/House R’s)
Jeanne Wolak (Industry Structure/House D’s)
Todd Yelverton (FERC)
What Do We Do?
“Influence Public Policy”
We educate and influence to achieve a favorable
outcome for Southern Company.
The Resources We Rely On
Relationships
Executives’
Commitment &
Involvement
Consultants
Southern Company
Washington, D.C. Office
Credibility
&
Technical Support
PACs
and other
resources
Results!
“Bush advisers had considered including
mention of the [carbon caps] proposal in the
president’s address to Congress last night, but a
reference to it was dropped in response to a last
minute lobbying effort….”
- Washington Post, 2/28/01
Results!
“On March 29, new source review was added to the
[Bush administration energy] task force’s agenda.
‘There was a real flurry of activity after the Southern
Company e-mail to put N.S.R. on the energy policy
agenda,’ said the person who participated in
formulating the energy policy. ‘And it didn’t go
away.’”
- The New York Times, 4/13/02
What Do We Stand For?
Leadership
Consistency
Credibility
The Political Dynamic
2000/2004 Presidential Elections:
2000: Bush wins electoral college vote, but loses popular vote
2004: Another close election expected
Senate:
51 Republicans - 48 Democrats- 1 Independent
60 votes needed to pass any controversial legislation in the Senate
House:
228 Republicans
205 Democrats
1 Independent
1 Vacancy
12 votes can make the difference between passage and failure
of legislation in the House
Moderates continue to play key role
(Centrist Coalition, Blue Dogs and New Democrats)
Key Issues
• Energy Policy
• Environmental
• Nuclear
• Tax
• FERC
Environmental Politics
Lightning Rod Issues

Mercury Emissions

New Source Review
Mercury Emissions
 Administration proposal for reductions
 Southern Company working to ensure
practical implementation of new limits
 Southern Company testimony at Senate
EPW hearing June 2003 (video)
News Coverage
 Washington Post
– Search “Mercury, Power plants”
– 1993 - Current
Results:
1993 – 2000  9 hits
2001 – current  70 hits
EPA Announces ‘Cap and Trade’ Plan to
Cut Mercury Pollution; Agency Bowed to
Utility Industry Pressure, Critics Charge:
Washington Post, Dec. 16, 2003
EPA Chief Leavitt Sticks to New Air-Quality
Rules Relaxing Mercury Standards:
Salt Lake Tribune, Apr. 5, 2004
The Mercury Scandal
New York Times, Apr. 7, 2004
Mercury Wars
New York Times, Apr. 15, 2004
Kerry Push, Unlike Gore’s, Will Attack on
Environment
New York Times, Apr. 21, 2004
E.P.A. Will Not Withdraw Its Mercury Plan
New York Times, Apr. 30, 2004
EPA to Delay Power Plant Mercury Controls
Washington Post, Apr. 29, 2004
Fair and balanced?
“The Bush administration’s ploy would
allow coal-fired power plants to put
more mercury into the air…”
New Source Review
 ERCC Coalition
– Sought changes to clarify rule
application
 Administration proposal under attack
A Decade of Industry Structure and
Markets Debate
 New visions of markets following 1992
EPACT
 First was the aggressive push for full retail
competition, led by Enron
 Debate shifted to wholesale competition
and transmission control (video)
The Continuation of a New Vision
“While Enron may be a goner, the innovation and
entrepreneurial spirit that characterized this
company remain”, he continued, predicting that
“that new breed of energy company, in fact, is
going to be the only game in town five years from
now.”
Pat Wood
FERC Chairman
Inside FERC
Summary
“We do what is right and we are
straightforward with our publics. This is
how we live, and it is the rule, not the
exception.”
Allen Franklin
What can you do?
 Understand the issues – talk to your
neighbors and communities
 Vote
 Support the PAC
Questions?