2004 Adopted Resolutions
72nd Annual Meeting
Boston

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MANDATORY ELECTRIC RELIABILITY STANDARDS

     WHEREAS, all functions of the nation=s economy rely on our energy infrastructure, and disruptions have a measurable impact on the economy; and

     WHEREAS, on August 14, 2003, areas in the Midwest and Northeast experienced an electric power blackout; and

     WHEREAS, the power outage affected an area with an estimated 50 million people in states of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey; and

     WHEREAS, estimates of total costs in the United States range between $4 billion and $10 billion dollars; and

     WHEREAS, the U. S. electricity transmission system, which was built over the past several decades, is an extensive, interconnected network of high-voltage power lines that transport electricity from generators to consumers; and

     WHEREAS, the reliability of the interconnected power grid is critical to the nation=s economy and security,

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges Congress to pass national energy policy that will ensure our electric transmission system will continue to meet the nation=s need for reliable and affordable electricity in the 21st century; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors calls on Congress to pass national energy policy that includes mandatory and enforceable national reliability standards; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the Congress and the Administration to upgrade and enhance, in partnership with state and local governments and energy service providers, our national transmission system to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of energy to meet projected demand for electricity; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges Congress to adequately fund research and development into new technologies that would improve the capacity, flexibility, and efficiency of our nations electric transmission system.