emphasized the construction of new power plants over strategies

emphasized the construction of new power plants over strategies for reducing demand.

According to a Virginia Pwer report entitled “Long-Range Forecast of Load and Resources: 1992-2011.” “In Virginia, utility demand side management (DSM) has focused on controlling peak demand but not on reducing energy consumption.”

By the year 2000, Virginia Power forecasts summer peak demand reductions of almost 4.5 percent. However, the utility expects to achieve only minimal energy savings this decade and, in fact, beyond the year 2000, the impact of utility DSM will be to increase annual energy consumption.”

Carr went on to say that despite the obvious dangers threatening our national parks today, the Environmental Protection Agency anounced earlier this month that it would not revise the ozone standard.

“In 1990, the National Park Service finally heeded Congress’s direction and took steps to protect Shenandoah National Park,” said Carr. “These steps were long overdue.

“Unfortunately,” he added, “the Park Service effort has been frustrated by both political interference from the upper levels of the Department of the Interior and the White House and the unwillingness of EPA to provide any real support to the effort to protect Shenandoah National Park.”

David Simon, of the National Parks and Conservation Association, said, “Given the political pressure brought to bear on these issues, it’s hard to be optimistic about the park’s future. EPA’s decision not to revise the ozone standard is only one recent instance where big business has played politics with the law and public health.”

According to Julie Thomas, the environmental protection specialist with the National Park Service, park employees have been told by Bush administration officials to stop submitting adverse impact appeals against new pollution sources.

The next major potential pollution source which will be looked at is the proposed Potomac Power Partners generator in Leesburg.

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