State report backs nuclear power as clean energy
By Christine Stapleton, PalmBeachPost.Com, Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Florida's energy future should be "clean" - not just "renewable" - and include nuclear power as a source of green energy, according to recommendations from the staff of utility regulators released Wednesday.
Click-2-Listen
The 111-page report is the latest step in the debate over whether power companies can count new nuclear power toward their obligation to generate renewable energy.
The report follows months of lobbying by Florida Power & Light - the state's largest utility and producer of nuclear power - to persuade regulators to create a "Clean Energy Portfolio Standard" rather than a "Renewable Portfolio Standard." Florida statues do not include nuclear power in the definition of "renewable" energy. FPL generates no renewable energy in Florida.
"With a clean-energy standard that includes new nuclear generation as well as wind and solar, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce costs, dampen fuel price volatility for customers, and meet aggressive targets that should ultimately be adopted by the state, FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana said.
Recent laws and an executive order signed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007 ordered the Public Service Commission to draft a "Renewable Portfolio Standard" and set a timetable for utilities to generate 20 percent of their retail energy sales from renewable sources. Of the 27 states that have Renewable Portfolio Standards, Ohio is the only state that includes nuclear power.
The report describes nuclear power as a "cornerstone of an energy efficient Florida." Including nuclear power in the green energy mix "could make it easier" for investor-owned utilities, such as FPL, to meet an earlier deadline to go green. The target date for meeting the 20 percent goal should be 2041, according to the report. That date would put Florida 16 years behind the other states with green energy standards.
"The reason for having a faster Renewable Portfolio Standard - 20 percent by 2020 - is to stimulate growth in solar and other renewable technologies," said Eric Draper, the policy director of Audubon of Florida. "By postponing the deadline they (commission staff) have missed the opportunity to use the Renewable Portfolio Standard to stimulate growth of a green economy in Florida."
The commission will consider the recommendations at a hearing on Jan. 9 and make recommendations to lawmakers Jan. 30. The Legislature will decide the standard.
"The market is already taking off," said Susan Glickman, southern regional director of The Climate Group. "A strong target is needed to encourage investment and unleash those dollars. We need to get started quickly."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment