Comprehensive energy bill signed into law

On July 29, 2005, Congress passed the first comprehensive energy legislation in more than a decade. President Bush signed the energy bill on Aug. 8 in a ceremony at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, making the Energy Policy Act of 2005 law.

This historic bill strengthens our nation's electrical infrastructure, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, increases conservation and expands the use of clean renewable energy, said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.

The Secretary went on to say, "The bipartisan efforts to craft this legislation, led in the Senate by Senators Domenici and Bingaman, have produced a bill of which we all can be proud. By encouraging greater efficiency, increased energy production in environmentally responsible ways and encouraging investment in our nation's outdated energy infrastructure, this bill takes a balanced approach and embodies the right priorities for the American people.

"This legislation helps protect our environment by supporting the development and deployment of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, encouraging the construction of clean, safe, nuclear power plants and promoting research and development efforts to transform the way we produce and use energy in the future. This is a victory for the American people," he added.

New laws affects Western, utilities, consumers

The law repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act and reforms the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act. Several sections have direct implications to Western's activities and business practices. It also encourages needed investment in the nation's infrastructure, helps boost electric reliability and promotes a diverse mix of fuels to generate electricity. The two-year extension to the wind production tax credit means Western is likely to see additional interconnection requests from wind generators. The law also offers benefits to electricity consumers and encourages energy-efficiency and conservation.

Major sections of the more than 1,700-page legislation address:

• Reliability of the electricity system
• Critically needed investments in energy infrastructure
• Stable, diverse fuel supply for electricity generation
• Protection for electricity consumers and markets
• Energy efficiency and wise energy use

Note: Originally printed in Western's employee publication, Sept. 9, 2005.