APPA Urges Congress And FERC To Improve Bulk Electric System; Supports Workable Federal Renewable Electricity Standard

Members of the American Public Power Association's (APPA) Legislative & Resolutions Committee recently approved 11 resolutions at its annual Legislative Rally, including endorsing policies to improve the bulk electric transmission system and support for a workable federal renewable electricity standard.

With regard to new transmission infrastructure, major points of concern have been the obstacles blocking new construction such as siting and cost allocation. APPA's resolution urges the Congress to support and improve the federal back-stop siting authority provided to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It also urges FERC to provide greater guidance on cost allocation for major new transmission facilities that afford regional benefits and calls on Congress and FERC to provide greater opportunities for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities.

The renewable electricity standard resolution adopted by the membership supports Congress's passage of a renewable electricity standard of 15 percent, contingent upon a federal standard that is workable, allows a significant proportion of the standard to be met through energy efficiency measures, and ensures that comparable incentives are available to public power electric utilities, among other things.

Other resolutions include support for adequate operation and maintenance of federal hydropower facilities and additional authority to protect the bulk power systems from cyber attacks.

More than 600 locally elected and appointed officials, legislative experts, and APPA members attended the rally Feb. 23-26.

The approved resolutions are as follows:

Resolution 09-01: Improving the Bulk Electric Transmission System <>
Resolution 09-03: In Support of the Application of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts on New Program Funding
Resolution 09-04: In Support of Sufficient Operation and Maintenance of Federal Hydropower Facilities
Resolution 09-05: Encourage Congress to Take a Holistic Approach to Energy, Transmission and Environmental Policy

APPA-2009 Resolutions February 24, 2009
Resolution 09-06: In Support of Limited Additional Authority to Protect the Bulk Power System from Cyber Attacks
Resolution 09-07: The Benefits of Electric Transportation-Related Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions
Resolution 09-08: Enact Climate Change Legislation that Is Distinct and Separate from the Clean Air Act and Addresses the New Source Review Dilemma
Resolution 09-09: In Support of Accelerated Research, Development, and Deployment of Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technologies
Resolution 09-10: Improved Market Liquidity for Public Power
Resolution 09-11: Increase the Use of Tax-Exempt Financed Transmission Facilities

SOURCE: APPA