Press Mention The Tennessean March 13, 2005
SACE Quoted
Clean-air billLocally
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A Bush administration proposal to revise clean-air laws failed in a Senate committee, drawing cautious relief from environmental groups but disappointment from TVA. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, called the failure "great news for Tennesseans" and opposed the proposal as a "sweetheart deal" for polluting energy companies. Smith urged Sen. Frist to respect the bipartisan committee opposition and not attempt to bypass the committee.
failure of the proposal in a Senate committee was "great news for Tennesseans and bad news for the polluting energy companies who were looking forward to this sweetheart deal."
Stephen A. Smith
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Full transcript
March 10, 2005
Section: Main News
Edition: 1ST
Page: 12A
Clean-air billLocally
ANNE PAINE
STAFF
A setback for a Bush administration proposal to rework the nation's clean-air laws brought cautious relief to health and environmental groups and disappointment to the Tennessee Valley Authority.
TVA Chairman Glenn McCullough said his agency, which has coal-fired electricity plants in Middle Tennessee and elsewhere, found the proposal's timeline to reduce emissions "aggressive and achievable."
"At the same time we respect the legislative process. ... We are going to do our part to make sure the air is cleaner.
"If all sources of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide were reduced at the same rate TVA is reducing its emissions, it is likely that all counties in the Tennessee Valley would be in attainment."
Stephen Smith, executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in Knoxville, said failure of the proposal in a Senate committee was "great news for Tennesseans and bad news for the polluting energy companies who were looking forward to this sweetheart deal."
Several public health and environmental organizations opposed the bill, including the American Lung Association and the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials.
"We hope that Sen. Frist will respect the bipartisan committee opposition and not attempt to bypass the committee to take the bill to the floor," Smith said.