Giuliani Firm, Utilities Team Up to Fight Renewable-Energy Plan

[swag]

Source: Bloomberg

Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- A lobbying blitz by some of the U.S.'s biggest utility companies is likely to strangle the most potent provision in energy legislation that's making its way through Congress.

Southern Co., American Electric Power Co. and other producers hired top Washington lobbyists, including Rudy Giuliani's firm, to help defeat a measure that would force them to boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020. That's up from less than 2 percent today, and is a move the industry says would cost at least $67 billion.

The Senate failed on Dec. 7 to get the 60 votes needed to move the legislation, a day after the House of Representatives approved it. To get the bill to President George W. Bush's desk this year and steer clear of a White House veto threat, the Senate will probably have to pass a weakened measure.

``The lobbying effort led by Southern Co. is the principal obstacle to America unleashing a renewable-electricity revolution,'' says Representative Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who has led the fight for a federal standard on the new energy sources.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=acdJZHj_UlBI&refer=home

[Donkeykick]

1. This doesn't surprise me a bit!

Rudy has plans to carry on the legacy of Cheney. :eyes:

[ixion]

2. folks, you don't need Big Electric... you can build your own, and make them pay you

If they don't want to build renewable energy plants, then We, the People should, and put them all out of business.

[rAVES]

3. Everywhere you turn.. the Ghoul is being a scumbag somehow.

[SavageDem]

4. Isn't it just incredible?

We're on this planet - most of us, at least - for only 75.7 years, and yet these effing a-holes care more about making money for their company than they do about trying to preserve a livable planet for their descendants.

Why are people such morons?

[jpak]

5. Freakin' Giuliani!!!!1111

The Southern Company is a major GOP contributor and the CEO a Friend of Bush - no surprises here.