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	Name:	LifeTime Laker -
	Subject:	Press Release
	Date:	9/13/2007 11:42:14 AM

Below is the press release from the Smith Lake folks. I am going to add my commentary. Yes, it will be biased, because we all bring our own perspective and prejudices to any any debate, but it will not be nearly as biased as the release itself. But at the end, someone PLEASE explain to my how this shows any GREAT VICTORY for the 'stake holders'. If anything, it shows me just more status quo. My thoughts will be in all caps since that is the only way to segregate the two on here........

Double Springs, AL.--- The Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C. issued a stunning ('STUNNING' = EDITORIAL COMMENT MEANT TO SWAY THE READER)ruling last Thursday, September 6, 2007 to Alabama Power Company when it granted only a year-to-year license for the power company’s hydro-electric operations on the Warrior River. For the past seven years, Alabama Power Company has applied for and sought customary re-licensure approval of 30-50 years for its operations on Smith Lake.(FOR SEVEN YEARS THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED, SO WHY IS IT SO 'STUNNING' THIS TIME)

Cheering the federal government’s unexpected decision were many residents, community leaders, and local business folks who live and work in the Smith Lake region, which is located in Cullman, Walker and Winston counties. The largest, most vocal alliance formed against Alabama Power Company’s re-licensure is a grassroots group of citizens known as SLISA, or the Smith Lake Improvement and Stakeholders Association. SLISA’s members banded together last year (LAST YEAR, SO WHO TAKES CREDIT FOR THE PREVIOUS 6 YEARS OF THE SAME RULING) in an effort to eliminate unnecessary lake level fluctuations and to protest Alabama Power Company’s unfair land management issues related to the lake and its extensive shoreline. Major concerns were also raised regarding the adverse impact on the local and surrounding communities’ economies due to Alabama Power Company’s policies. (NOT APCO POLICY BUT CORPs GUIDELINES)

“In our opinion, (OPINIONS ARE NOT FACTS, WHAT PSYCHIC TOLD THEM IT WAS GOING TO GO OTHER WISE) Alabama Power Company would have been granted the full 30-50 year re-licensure had we, the unified residents of the Smith Lake community, not intervened and sought relief from FERC,” stated Jared Key, President of the Smith Lake Improvement and Stakeholders Association. He added further, “While we recognize the process of re-licensure is still ongoing, (ONGOING-- MEANS IT ISN'T OVER YET, SAME TIME NEXT YEAR FOLKS) we are now somewhat hopeful that Alabama Power Company officials will finally attempt to resolve the few, but critical, requests we have asked of them. Quite frankly, we believe that reasonable accommodations for all parties involved in this dispute can be attained, but Alabama Power Company hasn’t shown any willingness for compromise throughout the whole process.” (WHAT COMPROMISE HAS BEEN OFFERED BY SLISA, ALL I HAVE SEEN IS DEMANDS THAT THEIR WISHES BE GRANTED)

Primarily, SLISA’s membership has requested that Alabama Power Company maintain higher water levels year-round that would be suitable and even advantageous for both sides.( HOW CAN THEY SPEAK FOR WHAT IS 'AVENTAGIOUS' FOR THE OTHER SIDE. SHOWS ARROGANCE ON THE PART OF THE WRITE/ORGINIZATION) Key was at a loss to explain why Alabama Power Company has staked out such a hardened position against the wishes of local residents who are also power company ratepayers.( HE IS AT A LOSS BECAUSE APCO DOES NOT CONSULT HIM ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LAKE OR IT'S BUSINESS POLICIES, OR IT'S COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS) “Someone, or maybe several people, in management have chosen to totally disregard our concerns. They have preferred to let the process drag out, I guess, in the hopes that we’d just go away. (HOW HAS APCO LET THE PROCESS 'DRAG OUT, HOVE THEY SOUGHT EXTENSIONS, DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS OF MEETINGS. ACCUSATIONS REQUIRE PROOF. SAYING IT DOESN'T MAKE IT SO) ''But we’re not going anywhere. It’s appalling that a company which spends several millions of our rate-paying dollars every year trying to convince us what an honorable corporate citizen it is has resorted to this kind of irresponsible and ugly behavior.” (IRRESPONSIBLE AND UGLY, TWO WORDS MEANT TO INFLAME THE READERAND AND DENEGRATE APCO)
Key, continued, “The individuals who have joined SLISA firmly believe (FIRMLY BELEIVING IN YOUR OPINION DOESN'T MAKE IT FACT) that our proposals (PROPOSALS REQUIRE FACTS AND PROOF THAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS. KEEPING PEOPLE HAPPY WITH WATER AT THEIR PEIR IS NOT APCO POLICY) and solutions for maintaining year-round water levels will not only satisfy the needs of the residents and community of Smith Lake, but also meet the needs of Alabama Power Company related to hydro-power generation--- without increased cost to any consumers.(HOW WOULD THE WRITER/ORGINIZATION KNOW THIS. TO EVEN CLAIM THIS ONCE AGAIN SHOWS ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE. HOW CAN THE WRITER/ORGINIZATION CLAIM TO KNOW WHAT APCO POLICY IS AND WHAT 'NEEDS' WILL OR WILL NOT BE MET BY A CHANGE IN THAT POLICY) Alabama Power Company apparently believes its consumers are better served by hiring its high-priced lawyers to duke it out in Washington, D.C.” (ONCE AGAIN THE WRITER ATTEMPTS TO SWAY THE READERS OPINION BY DENEGRATING THEIR OPPONENT (this hardly ever works) D.C. IS WHERE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE SET, SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY HAVE LAWYERS/LOBBYISTS THERE LOOKING AFTER THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMPANY AND IT'S SHAREHOLDERS)

Ok, so there is my take on the press release. I will GLADLY read anybody else's opinion on the matter. The HOBO's have done a great job so far, but using this press release as an example of the 'great' things that an orginization can do is totally misconstrued. The SLISA accomlished nothing but inflating the egos of its leaders and members, while taking credit for something they most likely had absolutely NOTHING to do with. The las press release I read from them admitted and bemoaned the fact that APCO just 'dismissed' them and their complaints. But now they claim the power to stop APCO from attaining something they have been denied for 7 straight years.

Anyone that wants to impress me will answer this question. Why has the 30-50 license not been granted for the past 6 years when the SLISA didn't even exist? I don't know the answer, but would LOVE to.