Press Mention Chattanooga Times Free Press July 30, 2003
SACE Quoted
Alexander won't back energy bill air amendment
In this mention
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander declined to support a Senate amendment that would preserve states' rights to establish stricter air pollution standards than federal requirements. The amendment, proposed by Senators John Edwards and Joseph Lieberman, stems from EPA plans to weaken pollution-control requirements at aging coal-fired power plants. Ulla Reeves of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy expressed disappointment, arguing the amendment would protect Tennessee's ability to set its own clean air standards.
What it would do is preserve the state of Tennessee's ability to choose the clean air laws that are going to be best for them
Ulla Reeves
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Full transcript
Alexander won't
back energy bill
air amendment
BY ANDY SHER
WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., will not back an energy bill amendment that advocates contend makes it easier for states to have air standards stricter than the federal government's, an Alexander spokeswoman said Wednesday.
"He feels that it's an unnecessary amendment because after the EPA (acted) last December, states are free to establish more strict clean air standards if they choose," said Alexia Poe, Alexander's press secretary.
On Wednesday, Sen. Alexander's office said he was "reviewing" the amendment by U.S. Sens. John Edwards, D-N.C., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.
Environmentalists said they are disappointed.
"It's too bad that Sen. Alexander has chosen to vote against the amendment," said Angela Ledford, director of Clear the Air.
"The state of Tennessee should have the right to stronger air pollution regulations, especially when you have a place like the Smoky Mountains where air pollution has taken such a huge toll," Ms. Ledford said.
The senator's decision, however, drew praise from the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, which represents utilities.
"He's right," said the group's attorney, Scott Segal.
The amendment stems from plans the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has to change federal pollution-control requirements at aging coal-fired power plants that undergo major modification.
Environmentalists said the EPA move will weaken federal standards and make it more difficult if not impossible for states to maintain current or even stricter standards.
Mr. Segal disagreed, saying states wishing to have stricter standards would have to enact legislation instead of letting the decision be made by state air pollution boards.
Environmentalists had hoped Sen. Alexander might side with them on the amendment after he recently bucked the Bush administration on another bill dealing with clean air issues.
Ulla Reeves, regional air director for the Knoxville-based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said the amendment is a states' rights issue.
"What it would do is preserve the state of Tennessee's ability to choose the clean air laws that are going to be best for them," she said.
Senators on Wednesday night hoped to vote on other energy bill provisions that would keep the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from finalizing new electricity market rules until 2005.
One provision would allow the FERC to review the fairness of rates the Tennessee Valley Authority charges to other power producers to use the federal utility's transmission lines.