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Niood president"

"He h, California is rudderless, stuck with a head of state on't take stands or hand down decisions Not if they're likely to offend a single national voter"

"Allowing for slight exaggeration," Eric Humphrey said, "that is the essence of our problem"

"Further applies-for siure in Sacramento"

The five of theht headquarters, in the chaire area

In less than teeks public hearings on the proposed coal-burning, high-capacity generating plant at Tunipah would begin And while the project was vital to California-a viewpoint agreed to privately by the Governor, his aides and senior legislators-for political reasons none would lend public support to the Tunipah plan The utility, despite strong opposition forces, o it alone"

So else the Governor had rejected was GSP & L's plea that the several regulatory agencies which would be intervened with licensing Tunipah should hold joint hearings because of urgency Instead, regular procedures would take their course It uovernh often overlapping

Teresa Van Buren asked, "Is the Governor, or anyone else, likely to have a change of heart?"

"Only if the bastards see an advantage to therowled

"And they won't" Paulsen had grown increasingly bitter of late about the frustrating delays in having plans approved As the executive in charge of power supply, Paulsen would have the unpopular job of initiating power cuts when they became needed in the future

"Ray's right," O'Brien acknowledged "We all kno the Sacra-off the record-the need for nuclear plants, but without the guts to say so out loud"

"Well," Eric Humphrey said incisively, "whether we like that attitude or despise it, the sas I have sohts to share with you I want our own participation in those hearings to be of the highest caliber Our presentation nified Under cross-examination the responses of all our representatives must be the same, with emphasis on courtesy and patience As part of their tactics, the opposition will try to provoke us

We must resist that provocation and I want all our people briefed to that effect"

"It will be done," Oscar O'Brien said

Ray Paulsen regarded Niriht now"

Neither had forgotten their clash at thewhere Ni of the utility's proble by the chairman's instructions, the "moderate line" was still in effect

"Do you still believe, Oscar," Eric Humphrey asked, "that it is necessary for s?"

O'Brien nodded "Absolutely yes"

Behind the question, obviously, was Hu the past ten days there had been twoer to the utility and its personnel Only yesterday a warning, telephoned to a radio station, declared that "ement criminals will shortly pay the people's penalty for their misdeeds"

O'Brien added, "I promise it will be a brief appearance, Eric, but we need you on the record"

The chairhed "Very well"

Niy would not apply to his Nim would appear as a key witness and, while others from the utility would testify on technical matters, Nim would present the broad sweep of the Tunipah project Oscar O'Brien would lead the witnesses through interrogation