Utilities across the country reacted to the proposed Obama administration emissions regulations that cut U.S. CO2 to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 but leave to each state a choice of means that include increased use of natural gas, renewables, or energy efficiency or a free-market-based cap-and-trade system.
White House senior adviser John Podesta reportedly spent two days preparing utilities, which produce a third of U.S. GHGs, for a cost of as much as $8.8 billion a year.
Santee Cooper statement: “This is an oppressive requirement…If it stands, this standard will hurt South Carolina’s economy by driving up power costs and driving away industry and the jobs they provide…”
FPL spokesperson Mark Bubriski: "We pride ourselves on having one of the cleanest fleets in the country…We have been investing in clean energy for well over a decade now."
American Electric Power Chair/CEO Nick Akins: “It’s a critical issue for us not to strand all that investment that we made and secondly to make sure the grid can operate in a reliable fashion through this transition…”
Southwestern Electric Power Co. spokesperson Scott McCloud: “This is years away…It won’t take effect tomorrow.
Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning: "No one is doing more than Southern Co. to address CO2…"
Tampa Electric spokesperson Cherie Jacobs: “[The regulations] will further increase electricity costs for our customers…Coal continues to play an important part in fuel diversity and keeps prices low for all our customers."
CPS Energy statement: "…[CPS Energy] has been on an aggressive path to diversify and reduce the carbon intensity of its own generation fleet for several years now, through the increased use of natural gas, wind and solar energy…"
Sacramento Municipal Utility District GM/CEO Arlen Orchard: “SMUD has shown that it’s possible to establish a portfolio of zero-GHG energy resources and highly efficient natural gas power plants, along with investments in energy efficiency, to achieve reduced GHG emissions while maintaining reliable and affordable electricity service… "
