Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Ask CNN: How Will the Power Shortage in California Affect the Southeastern United States?

Aired July 02, 2001 - 10:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISHA HARRISON, COLEMAN, ALABAMA: Hi, my name's Elisha Harrison. I'm from Coleman, Alabama.

And I just wanted to ask CNN how the power shortage in California is going to affect the Southeastern United States.

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There should be very little direct impact from California's electricity crisis on the Southeastern United States, because the transmission infrastructure for that part of the country is completely separate from the West.

However, that may not be the case forever. President Bush's energy plan calls for the creation of an integrated national electricity grid so areas of the country with excess power could supply places with shortages much easier.

California's problems are unique and stem from the fact that the state's effort to deregulate electricity has been badly flawed and the state's decision more than a decade ago to stop building power plants because of environment concerns finally caught up with it. However, there are potentials for milder electricity shortages in other areas of the country.

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has warned that places like New York, the Midwest and the Southeast could face some shortages this summer. But they're not expected to be nearly as severe as what California faces.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com