Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 22, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke extends energy supply alert for an additional 60 days

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today extended for 60 days the energy supply alert he declared on Jan. 26.

The alert:

Allows utilities to install temporary generators to provide more power while imposing strict environmental mitigation requirements

Requires state and local governments to cut electricity and natural gas consumption by 10 percent

Allows the City of Tacoma to burn alternative fuels at its steam plant while protecting air quality

The order, effective June 25, will extend the state of energy supply alert until August 23, 2001.

In signing the order, the governor said, "Despite a recent dip in wholesale power prices, utilities continue to face unprecedented financial difficulties, and could continue to alleviate their problems through continued conservation, temporary generation and use of alternative fuels."

"We are not out of the woods, and we cannot become complacent. Today's action makes clear our continued commitment to reducing energy consumption and increasing energy supply," the governor added.

The joint legislative committee on energy supply approved the governor's request for an extension at a public meeting yesterday.

The alert has facilitated bringing more than 500 megawatts of power on-line this year. In addition, state agencies are reporting 10 percent decreases in energy use and a more than 20 percent drop in natural gas consumption.

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Related Links:
- Energy is Money, Think Before You Spend it.

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