Dear Editor: Before the New Jersey Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act of 1999, which deregulated the energy utilities was signed into law, I warned legislators at a New Jersey Assembly hearing about my fear that when customers have the right to shop for their electric supplier, they may do so at the expense of the environment. My fears were realized quicker than I imagined. The switching of electric suppliers is bringing more savings and emissions of smog-creating chemicals and pollution. I was disappointed to read in the paper that New Jersey corporations – members of the Chemical Industry Council, representing 60 of the largest manufacturing plants in New Jersey, the Casino Association of New Jersey and 131 Wal-Mart stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania – have decided to switch their energy supplier to out-of-state companies, with low costs and high rates of pollution. Allegheny Energy Supply, whose parent company is Allegheny Energy, and First Energy are among the Top 10 polluters of power companies in the nation. First Energy is the target of federal litigation because their emissions contribute to unhealthy air and water conditions. Also, First Energy Services Corporation was recently awarded a contract to supply electricity to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This company’s plant emissions have been cited for spewing millions of tons of pollution into the air that contribute to smog and acid rain. Acid rain has been blamed for corroding the Statue of Liberty. These companies produce their energy mainly by burning dirty coal. The pollution emitted when this dirty coal is burned has been shown to be transported by wind currents and deposited on the east coast in general and New Jersey in particular. I urge the Chemical Industry Council, the Casinos, Wal-Mart and municipal aggregations to rethink their goals so that they take the environmental impact of their decision into consideration. If your municipality or company is going to switch energy suppliers, please note that on November 3, the federal government sued seven major utilities, and issued an administrative order against the federally-owned Tennessee Valley Authority, for failing to comply with clean air laws when modifying operations at 32 coal-fired plants. Companies sued were Cinergy, American Electric Power (AEP), First Energy, Illinova Corporation, Southern Company, TECO Energy Inc., and Southern Indiana Gas and Electric. I urge everyone to be active in the process of evaluating every energy company’s commitment to environmental protection. We should not trade our health for a few dollars in decreased energy costs. Captain Bill Sheehan Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc.