Utilities Announce Plans to Fight Global Warming

Two local power companies announced Monday that they will each try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20% by 2010 to address the threat of global warming.

Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said they were responding to a National Academy of Sciences report saying action on global warming was justified despite uncertainties about the theory.

Each utility plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions 10% by the end of the decade and shoot for another 10% reduction by the year 2010. Cuts would be achieved by energy conservation and efficiency programs, modernizing facilities and other measures.