Republican

Unable to end a stalemate over two key issues, Republican andDemocrat leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural ResourcesCommittee sent up a white flag yesterday conceding defeat in theirstruggle to pass comprehensive electricity restructuringlegislation this year. But to show that their efforts weren’tentirely in vain, they voted out a stripped-down reliability bill,which supporters say will provide relief to the bulk power marketas early as this summer.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge nominated Republican utilitylawyer Terrance J. Fitzpatrick to replace David W. Rolka on thePennsylvania Public Utility Commission. “He is a common-senseenvironmentalist with a rich breadth of experience in energy andutility law and policy,” Ridge said in a statement. As a lawyer,Fitzpatrick has represented GPU Energy, owner of the Three MileIsland nuclear plant

Republican members of the Senate Energy and Natural ResourcesCommittee Wednesday warned Energy Secretary nominee Bill Richardsonhis nomination could face an indefinite delay when it reaches theSenate floor unless the Clinton administration makes concessions onthe controversial issue of nuclear-waste storage. Democrat members,on the other hand, vowed to fight against any efforts to block thenomination.

Oklahoma’s Republican Sen. Don Nickles has introduced a wholenew approach to the electric restructuring debate, proposing a billthat would strip states of their authority to grant franchises toutilities and open local markets to competition.