The 22nd Annual Meeting in October 2000, closed with an objective to expand our legislative activity on energy, Clean Air Act Reauthorization and place special effort on New Source Review Reform. Our goal was to build on our litigation successes, regulatory leadership and growing presence to promote these issues and other issues facing the industrial powerhouse and our members. About this time last year we were preparing for our annual meeting. Little did we know the world would change profoundly a month before the scheduled meeting and the 23rd Annual Meeting would be canceled. This year's meeting will make up for that and address the changes - energy & environment, technology & politics, and powerhouse (energy) & corporate - and how we as CIBO and individuals provide increased benefit to our companies.

Between our last annual meeting and now, CIBO has continued to move forward to build on our accomplishments and capabilities. We have been successful, beyond expectations. RCRA Ash classification, EGU / Non-EGU definition, 126/NOx SIP Harmonization, Boiler MACT, great conferences, DOE/CIBO publications are to name a few. In doing this, we have increased our presence, credibility and leadership with the White House Office of Management and Budget and Council on Environmental Quality, with the Senate, Environment and Public Works Committee and the House, Energy & Commerce Committee. While we may not have obtained 100% of everything we had wanted and the issues seem to drag on, we believe we have, and will continue to, come out well ahead of the pack and prevail against the serious opposition of cornered environmentalists. It would be great to have a crystal ball to see what the future will bring, stormy weather or clear skies; however, since that is not possible we must understand the situation and be prepared for the possibilities of what happens next.

This year we will address the impact and viability of energy and environmental technical information in a new political world, both within the corporate office and in regulatory and legislative arenas. Two years ago, the foundation for energy advocacy, issues and responses to daily demands was 80% technical/engineering and 20% other. Today, I believe it is 90% political, financial, and public relations and 10% technical/engineering. The technical and engineering logic and support are assumed to be there regardless of the decision. Today, energy is no longer fuel and equipment for conversion to usable energy. It is emotional response to apocalyptic environmental prophets, it is corporate finance and response to energy trading markets; it is environmental externalities and green public relations, and it is politics more than ever. The complexities of what were relatively simple energy decisions have increased astronomically. We will address, where we are; what we need to make our way through this new political, financial and public relations environment; and, plan for what happens next.

There is much to do with less than ever before. However, CIBO's accomplishments and impact on national and state issues continues to grow. With our joint and guided effort, the path will be a little smoother and easier for each of us. And, we will be prepared for what happens next.