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Contact:
Tracy Warren, NRECA
703-907-5746
Mobile: 703-517-3411
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, DEC. 11, 2008 –NRECA CEO Glenn English welcomed news that President-elect Obama has chosen Stephen Chu, the researcher who currently heads the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as his Secretary of Energy.
“In the national effort to curb carbon emissions, a Secretary who understands both the technological challenges and the research and development process will be extremely helpful.
“To de-carbonize the electric industry over the next five decades will require new and improved technologies. There must be a focus on the development of technologies to allow for baseload generation options. We need an Energy Secretary who can chart a viable path to get us there.”
English also welcomed the expected addition of Carol Browner as White House Energy Coordinator. Browner, who was under President Clinton the longest-serving Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, is an experienced hand in environmental policy debates.
“With her extensive experience in Washington policy arena, Ms. Browner understands the importance of ‘political sustainability’ in the process of crafting and implementing legislation.
“The key to political sustainability will be maintaining affordability for the nation’s electric consumers. We must find a way to achieve required greenhouse gas emission and oil import reductions while at the same time ensuring an affordable and reliable supply of energy to meet the needs of a growing economy.”
In recent meetings with Obama’s Energy Transition team, NRECA has underscored the need for realistic and least cost approach to climate change legislation.
For an interview with Glenn English, contact Tracy Warren at 703-907-5746 or by email at tracy.warren@nreca.coop.
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