NEW ORLEANS, June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Wayne Leonard today issued a statement in support of passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 that today will be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Leonard, an early and leading industry advocate of comprehensive climate change legislation, issued the following statement:
"We support the Waxman-Markey bill's market-based cap-and-trade system as it is a major step forward in solving the biggest challenge of our time. The bill moves toward establishing the necessary price signals for carbon dioxide to drive innovation and investment in energy efficiency and new energy technologies. Additionally, by allocating 15 percent of the allowances to counter the possible effect of the legislation on low-income citizens, the bill establishes a critical framework to help the most vulnerable households manage their energy bills through rebates and energy efficiency programs.
"We also believe there are important issues that should continue to be considered as the bill proceeds through Congress. Potential modifications would include greater price certainty and more emphasis on technologies specifically aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal plants. However, today's priority is passage of the bill. Given our firsthand experience in our service territory with hurricanes, storm surges and a disappearing coastline, we know what is at stake in the future if we reach the proverbial point of no return with rising CO2 emissions. I encourage all House members to vote 'yes' on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009."
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,700 employees.
Entergy's online address is http://www.entergy.com/.
Entergy Corporation
CONTACT: Alex J. Schott of Entergy Corporation, +1-504-576-4238,
aschott@entergy.com
Web Site: http://www.entergy.com/
