Accusations fly over handling of TVA commission proposal

By Richard Powelson · News-Sentinel

In this mention

Stephen Smith, executive director of the Tennessee Valley Energy Reform Coalition, accuses Gov. Sundquist's administration of pressuring Tennessee Republicans in Congress to oppose a proposed one-year commission to study TVA operations and readiness for electricity deregulation. Smith warns the commission may fail without congressional support and adequate funding, particularly from Rep. Zach Wamp on the Appropriations Committee.

I'm worried ... the commission may die on the vine
Stephen A. Smith

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Accusations fly over handling
of TVA commission proposal
By Richard Powelson
News-Sentinel Washington bureau
6.11.97 KNS

A Knoxville environmentalist Tuesday accused
Gov. Don Sundquist's administration of being be-
hind the refusal of Tennessee Republicans in Con-
gress to support a one-year commission.

Stephen Smith, executive director of the Ten-
nessee Valley Energy Reform Coalition, said the
talk in political circles is that the governor is con-
cerned the commission proposal could help Demo-
cratic Rep. Bob Clement of Nashville politically,
Clement is a potential candidate against
Sundquist in 1998.

The commission was suggested to study the
agency's operations and readiness for deregulation
in electricity sales.

Sundquist spokeswoman Beth Fortune said the
governor has not taken a position on the commis-
sion, which was proposed by TVERC and pro-
moted in Congress by Clement.

"Not to my knowledge would the governor or
any of his aides say anything like that" against the
commission idea to Tennessee Republicans in Con-
gress, Fortune said.

Smith, a Democrat, said he has no plans to run
for office again after Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., a
Knoxville Republican, defeated him last year.

Smith said there may be only a few weeks
before a House subcommittee sets next year's
budget for energy and water programs. If the TVA
commission is not approved as part of that budget,
it will have difficulty getting the $2 million Clem-
ent says it needs for a year of work, Smith said.

"I'm worried ... the commission may die on
the vine," Smith said.

Smith's group also criticized Rep. Zach Wamp,
R-Tenn., the only Tennessee member on the Ap-
propriations Committee, for not backing the com-
mission. Without Wamp's help, Smith said, the
commission likely won't get passed by the House.