Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Economic Development and Business Groups such as KAN stand in opposition of Senate Bill 151

The Kentucky Aluminum Network, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, along with the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, the Kentucky Resource Council and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development participated in a joint news conference at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort on Wednesday to voice their opposition to Senate Bill 151.

The legislation proposes a change in the make-up of Kentucky’s Public Service Commission by increasing the number of commissioners from three to seven and making them elected positions instead of appointed.

“This model has been used in 13 other states and brought instability in the utility markets by politicizing the process of reviewing rate cases brought before the commission,” said Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dave Adkisson.

EDC President Nick Brake said this bill is a concern for the energy companies and heavy industrial electric users in the region such as Rio Tinto Alcan and Century Aluminum.

Adkisson provided remarks from the state Chamber during the conference. Also speaking were Greg Higdon, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers; Tom FitzGerald, Kentucky Resources Council; Mike Mangeot, Kentucky Association of Economic Development. Mike Baker attended the event representing the Kentucky Aluminum Network.

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