Entergy Chairman and CEO Issues Statement on the American Power Act

Says bill is a major step in solving climate change

News provided by

May 12, 2010, 03:51 ET

NEW ORLEANS, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Wayne Leonard today issued a statement in support of the introduction of the American Power Act, which was announced today by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.

Leonard, an early and leading industry advocate of comprehensive climate change legislation, issued the following statement:

"Senators Kerry and Lieberman are to be commended for their leadership in introducing meaningful climate change legislation and, in doing so, helping the United States take a major step forward in solving the biggest challenge of our time. With vital assistance from Senator Graham, Senators Kerry and Lieberman have provided the Senate with an excellent proposal for a comprehensive legislative package that will reduce our country's greenhouse gas emissions.

"Entergy supports the bill's market-based approach, which will put a price on carbon dioxide. This is the most effective and efficient way of achieving reduction of greenhouse gases and spurring innovation and investment into new carbon-reducing technologies. The company also supports the bill's incentives for the development of retrofit carbon capture and sequestration technologies, a critical component to effectively addressing emissions from this country's coal fleet and the world's rapidly growing number of coal plants. Additionally, the bill's hard price collar is a critical cost-control mechanism that will provide an adequate and durable CO2 price signal while preventing unacceptable CO2 price spikes. Finally, the bill's provision to provide additional assistance to low and middle income consumers is crucial to preventing the regressive impacts of higher energy costs on American families.

"Entergy applauds Senators Kerry's and Lieberman's leadership and tireless efforts to bring this proposal forward. We look forward to learning more about the bill, and we hope that it becomes the basis for the enactment of comprehensive climate change legislation."

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and more than 15,000 employees.

Entergy's online address is www.entergy.com.

Twitter: @EntergyMedia

SOURCE Entergy Corporation