Mitch Landrieu: “many years ago Arnold Glasow said that ``all some folks want is their fair share--and yours.'' Today, I rise to offer an…”

“many years ago Arnold Glasow said that ``all some folks want is their fair share--and yours.'' Today, I rise to offer an amendment that provides for true fairness in electricity pricing and in doing so paves the way for much needed transmission expansion at a national level. Over the past 10 years demand for electricity has increased 17 percent while transmission investment during the same period has continuously declined about 45 percent. What is even more troubling is that current demand for electricity is projected to increase by 25 percent over the next 10 years with only a modest increase in transmission capacity of 4 percent. With projected demand exceeding projected additional capacity five times over, problems seem imminent. It is no surprise to this Senator that in recent years electricity shortages due to transmission constraints have plagued the country from one coast to another and various points in between. Unless we deviate immediately from the past ways of doing business, our economy will be held hostage to transmission constraints with rolling blackouts becoming the norm rather than the exception. Our existing electrical transmission system was designed to serve local customers from utility-owned generation on a State-by-State basis.”