[TYY Letterhead]
June 19, 2008
VIA EDGAR
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Mr. Larry Greene
Re: Tortoise Energy Capital Corporation - Shelf Registration Statement
on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-149315 & 811-21725)
(the "Shelf Registration Statement")
To the Commission:
Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), the Tortoise Energy Capital Corporation (the "Registrant") hereby
requests that the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement referred to
above be accelerated so that it will be declared effective at 4:00 pm (Eastern
Time) on June 19, 2008, or as soon as practicable thereafter, after notification
by telephone to the Staff that the Shelf Registration Statement is correct and
complete with the exception of information omitted in reliance upon Rule 430A,
which will be provided in a final prospectus or prospectus supplement at the
time of offering. As of the date above, there is no managing or principal
underwriter for any of the Registrant's securities that may be offered on an
immediate, continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement referenced above. Future managing or principal underwriters, if any,
will be identified in a prospectus supplement to the Shelf Registration
Statement at the time of offering.
With respect to the Registrant's request for acceleration of the
effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, please be advised that the
Registrant acknowledges that:
(1) the Registrant is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filing;
(2) should the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated
authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission
from taking any action with respect to the filing;
(3) the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to
delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the
Registrant from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filing; and
Securities and Exchange Commission
June 19, 2008
Page 2
(4) the Registrant may not assert this action as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal
securities laws of the United States.
Sincerely,
TORTOISE ENERGY CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ P. Bradley Adams
--------------------------------
P. Bradley Adams, Assistant Treasurer
