Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 31, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke’s statement on FERC’s proposal to establish a standard design for wholesale energy markets

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today issued the following statement on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s proposal to establish a standard design for wholesale energy markets:

“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today proposed a so-called ‘standard market design’ that would usurp states’ authorities and create in the Northwest the same kind of centralized power markets that failed so miserably in California.

“In Washington, we have a healthy bilateral energy market in which utilities and generators arrange their own power contracts. There is no need for a central market that can be manipulated by unscrupulous power traders. To the contrary, we must avoid at all costs a repeat of the California debacle that caused so much harm to our region’s economy last year.

“FERC and the Bush administration continue to push their ill-conceived and potentially dangerous market theories on the Northwest. They should be aware that we in the Northwest oppose their efforts and will work to defend the authority of the states and the interests of our citizens in receiving reliable and affordable energy.”

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Related Links:
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

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