California Republicans urge Gov. Davis to call special session on gas

March 6, 2001
California must boost in-state natural gas production to avoid another energy crisis, California Republicans said Monday, in calling for Gov. Gray Davis to convene a special legislative session to deal with skyrocketing gas prices. But a Davis spokesman dismissed the proposal as unnecessary, saying there is plenty of time to deal with gas issues during the current special session the governor called to address the state's electricity crisis.


By Kate Thomas
OGJ Online


HOUSTON, Mar. 6�California must boost in-state natural gas production to avoid another energy crisis, California Republicans said Monday, in calling for Gov. Gray Davis to convene a special legislative session to deal with skyrocketing gas prices.

"California's natural gas crisis is completely intertwined with its electricity crisis," said Assembly Republican leader Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park)."Any plan to deal with our electricity crisis must have a natural gas component or Californians are going to pay unacceptably high prices for both."

California imports 86% of its natural gas from out of state, Campbell said. A special session would permit lawmakers to pass legislation which could take effect immediately, he explained. Republicans said natural gas issues should include addressing pipeline capacity, storage, exploration, alternative fuels, and conservation.

"The private sector has the expertise and the capital to deal with these issues, if government would just get out of the way. Republicans believe that a legislative solution to the natural gas crisis should leave the resources and primary decisionmaking to the private sector," said Campbell.

With gas prices projected to remain high through the summer by historic standards, Republicans made the request for a special session Monday in a letter to the governor. But a Davis spokesman dismissed the proposal as unnecessary, saying there is plenty of time to deal with gas issues during the current special session the governor called to address the state's electricity crisis.

Climbing gas prices are hurting businesses, consumers, and agriculture, Republicans explained in the letter. They contend the electricity and natural gas crises are inescapably linked.

Californians' gas bills have more than doubled in some cases, and rising natural gas costs are blamed, in part, for rising wholesale power costs that have pushed the state's two biggest utilities, Southern California Edison Co. and Pacific Gas & Electric Co., close to bankruptcy.

Contact Kate Thomas at [email protected]