Green Party backs lawsuit against nation's big power suppliers for emitting dangerous greenhouse gases, charge more must be done

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Wed., July 22, 2004

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SACRAMENTO – The Green Party of California – claiming even more should be done – voiced its support today for a lawsuit by California and seven other states against the nation's five largest power suppliers for emitting global warming greenhouse gases.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, is thought to be the first major legal action against such companies in an effort to combat emissions which scientists say will change the world's climate and lead to threats to the economy and the environment.

"All energy sold in the state should be produced using renewable, non-polluting resources - beginning at 20 percent in the coming year and increasing the percentage each year until all energy consumed in our state is produced in an environmentally sound fashion.," added John Crockford, Assembly candidate (29th District, Fresno).

"This lawsuit would not be necessary if the power suppliers of this country recognized their moral responsibility in safeguarding the environment. The only way to satisfy our power needs is to conserve energy and promote clean, renewable energy sources," said Assembly candidate Tom Hutchings (33rd District, San Luis Obispo).

And, 50th Congressional District (San Diego) candidate Gary Waayers, noted that the courts are necessary because "our nation's leaders do not want to offend the energy companies. We need to implement a Manhattan-style project on a hydrogen based fuels generated by renewable energies to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions."

In California, greenhouse gases can be blamed for more smog, more wildfires, a dwindling state water supply that will lead to diminished water supplies but also more flooding in the Central Valley, said the state lawsuit.

The powerplants sued include those in Cincinnati, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Knoxville and Columbus. They own about 200 power plants in the U.S. responsible for nearly 650 tons of carbon dioxide annually, or about one-quarter of the electric industry's yearly discharges. In addition to California, the states of Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin have signed onto the action.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org