FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Genevieve Erny or Eryn Witcher

January 29, 2002 (202) 224-6176

SMITH WELCOMES NEW HAMPSHIRE COMPANY AT EPW HEARING

New Durham company CEO testifies about innovative technology

Washington, D.C. — Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), Senior Republican on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today welcomed Mr. Frank Alix, CEO of the New Hampshire based corporation Powerspan, to the EPW Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands and Climate Change hearing. The hearing focused on power plants’ compliance with potential carbon and mercury emissions standards. For the last several years, Powerspan has been researching and developing a multi-pollutant control technology for coal-fired electric generating plants.

“If we embrace the free-market mechanisms that rely on innovation and incentives, then technology that has already proven itself effective can find its way into the mainstream. Revolutionary companies like New Hampshire’s Powerspan, which has developed a technology that reduces N0x, S0x, and Mercury, are paving the way for how utilities can reduce their emissions in the future. It is essential, however, that Congress create an efficient national emissions strategy that promotes such dynamic, new technologies.”

Senator Smith has long criticized power plant regulations under the Clean Air Act as a regulatory maze that is neither effective nor efficient. Senator Smith has advocated a new “cap and trade” approach that is based on market incentives and will result in greater emissions reductions sooner.

Since becoming Chairman, and now as Ranking Member, Senator Smith has invited over 30 individuals from New Hampshire to testify before the Environment and Public Works Committee. This has enabled New Hampshire unique opportunities to voice their opinions and impart their expertise at the federal level.

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