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EPSA's "State of the Energy Industry"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - John E. Shelk, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) yesterday discussed the issues facing competitive suppliers as they plan for the nation's future electricity needs at a panel on electric power supply during the United States Energy Associations 5th Annual State of the Energy Industry conference at the National Press Club. His remarks included the following statements:
"We appreciate the recognition in today's program that electric power supply is as important as energy efficiency in meeting the nation's energy needs. We're proud of our industry's existing track record on continuing to meet supply needs. The organized wholesale markets we support are in the best position to advance efficiency measures such as demand response. In addition, discussion of energy efficiency should include not only end-use efficiency but the efficiency of power plants themselves. Competitive suppliers have made significant gains in plant performance and efficiency. However, even with all the efficiency advances discussed here today, we will still need additional power supplies to meet the nation's energy needs and environmental goals.
"We believe the federal government can play an important role in promoting efficiency and environmental improvements in the electric power sector. This can be boiled down to three 'C' policies: Climate, Competition and Coordination.
"On climate change policy, we need a national, rational, market-placed plan that puts a price on carbon and helps provide the tools to develop and deploy low and zero-carbon technologies. In the best of economic conditions, this would be a challenge; in light of current economic circumstances, it becomes even tougher and thus even more imperative to start the legislative process and move forward diligently.
"The incoming Administration and the next chairman of FERC can build on the existing bipartisan work at FERC in pursuing wholesale electricity competition. In many areas of the country, there remain barriers to entry for those offering newer, cleaner, better generation and non-generation options. Federal agencies such as the Bonneville Power Authority should lead by example in encouraging new market entry, but instead BPA does just the opposite, with its moratorium on consideration of new wind hook-ups.
"Finally, energy and environmental policies must be coordinated and considered together. There should be coordination not only within federal and state governments, but also between them, such as the emerging conversation on federal/state authority on transmission and generation. We welcome the creation of a new White House office with Carol Browner as its head to improve coordination. A key EPSA goal is to promote competitive procurement policies by building on last year's NARUC/FERC report."
CONTACT: JOHN SHELK
(202) 349-0154or 703-472-8660
EPSA is the national trade association representing competitive power suppliers, including generators and marketers. These suppliers, who account for nearly 40 percent of the installed generating capacity in the United States, provide reliable and competitively priced electricity from environmentally responsible facilities serving global power markets. EPSA seeks to bring the benefits of competition to all power customers.