Worries About State's Energy Supply Fuel
New Coalition
Group Urges
Expanding Energy Generation Within State
POSTED: 1:43 pm EST
January 4, 2006
UPDATED: 1:54 pm EST
January 4, 2006
BOSTON -- A statewide coalition has been formed
in response to worries about rising
energy prices and the prospect of
regional electricity shortages and
rolling blackouts.
The membership of the Massachusetts
Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance
includes labor unions, the Associated
Industries of Massachusetts and two
energy firms, Duke Energy and Entergy.
The group, which calls itself Mass AREA,
urges expanding energy generation within
the state, rather than relying on
out-of-state sources.
Other energy advocacy groups that
emphasize renewable sources and energy
conservation share the new
organization's concern about potential
electricity shortages. But they worry
that the group's initial membership and
statements suggest it may advocate in
favor of electricity generation using
fossil fuels.