[IMAGE]
 	 	    Dear Jason,  It's official: Sen. Jim Jeffords is leaving the Republican Party and declares himself an Independent.  This move is going to have repercussions touching aspects in every area of legislation, and will undoubtedly affect the national energy policy.  We'll continue to update you on this situation from our Washington bureau.     Republicans and Democrats are nearing an agreement on the Electricity Emergency Relief Act.  Compromise language is being discussed behind closed doors, and members hope to resolve their differences when the markup continues Friday morning.   In a continuing effort to promote the Bush administration's energy plan, the Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham is scheduled to travel to a nuclear power plant in Maryland on Friday.  Correspondent Peter Cook is scheduled to be along for the ride.  Tuesday, Peter brings us details of his trip to Maryland.    Also on Friday, I'm scheduled to speak with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Energy Policy William Kovacs. He'll join us from Washington, D.C. to preview an energy meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where Vice President Dick Cheney will talk about the White House energy plan.  Catch my interview with Kovacs in the 11:00 a.m. ET newscast.     ENL's Gale Smith reports the Houston bureau is scheduled to give us an update from the ongoing story of 70,000 royalty owners who are filing a class action lawsuit against ExxonMobil.  The royalty owners allege Exxon unfairly determined the royalties they should receive from natural gas and natural gas liquids sales.  On Wednesday, a San Antonio U.S. District Judge certified the lawsuit filed by a Houston law firm.  Gale says the Houston bureau will bring you reactions from Exxon officials on Friday.     Dorothea El Mallakh, the Executive Director of the International Research Center for Energy and Economic Development is also scheduled to join us from our Houston bureau.  She says conservation is not synonymous with deprivation, and the current energy issue is not a problem with a quick solution.  We'll bring you more from Mallakh in the 10:00 a.m. ET newscast on Friday.   Keep in mind things are subject to change at a moment's notice.  Occasionally guests cancel or change time slots.  We'll continue to do our best to keep you updated on future interviews and events.     Keep it on energynewslive.com  for all your energy news.  	 				
 			[IMAGE]			 	
	 	Jay Rickerts, EnergyNewsLive.com Anchor  View today's Energy Wrap  video: (Windows Media Player required) Broadband  (100k)   |  Dial-up  (56k)  Get  Windows Media Player   Experience all that Williams Energy  News Live has to offer!   If you are receiving this letter for the first time and wish to continue,  subscribe now    To stop receiving this letter,   unsubscribe now     If you are having trouble receiving this e-mail, please let us know  or  call (800) WILLIAMS (800-945-5426) weekdays, 7am-7pm CST.    Comments? Suggestions? Let us  know  or  call (800) WILLIAMS (800-945-5426) weekdays, 7am-7pm CST.    Copyright 2001 Williams Energy News Live, LLC. All  Rights Reserved.