Exelon & Duke Energy Urge Congress To Adopt Mandatory GHG Limits

[hatrack]

U.S. utilities, breaking with their own trade association, urged Congress to impose mandatory restrictions on emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to global warming.

Exelon Corp. and Duke Energy Corp., the two largest U.S. utility owners, joined PNM Resources and Sempra Energy at a Senate hearing Tuesday to express support for creation of a federal program to set limits for U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

"Customers and shareholders need greater certainty," said Ruth Shaw, president of Duke's nuclear subsidiary. The company is in the process of evaluating how it will spend "many billions of dollars" to provide power for its growing customer base over the next 50 years, said Shaw, and wants to know what future carbon limits will be.

Backers of mandatory caps face opposition from politicians and from some in their industry. President Bush in 2001 abandoned a campaign pledge to limit emissions of carbon dioxide, or CO2, from power plants, and he withdrew the U.S. from the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that would have required emission reductions. The utility industry, through its trade group, the Edison Electric Institute, officially opposes government restrictions in favor of voluntary efforts.

EDIT

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/14266015.htm

[Massacure]

1. Amusing.

I like the description of "U.S. utilities". Way to hide the fact that they both run nuclear power plants, and Duke wants to build more reactors. I like that a lot. :evilgrin:

[NNadir]

2. Such a law would in fact restrict coal use.

Restricting coal is the right thing to do in any case.

These energy companies do look to profit further on their nuclear assets, but I think in a business sense, they recognize that GHG restrictions are coming like it or not. It helps them to plan their business if they know what the conditions will be.

No one, though, really can know what conditions will be. All we can say is that they will be dire.

[rfkrfk]

3. this is a state issue

states are beginning to use their
authority in this matter

[hatrack]

4. Since the federal government won't do squat . . . .

I say bully for the states!