In an op-ed published by the Raleigh News & Observer, Progress Energy Carolinas President and CEO Lloyd M. Yates explained the utility's plan to shutter 30 percent of its coal-fired North Carolina fleet of power plants and replace that power with natural-gas fired generation. The move would enable Progress to meet near-term carbon reduction targets included in climate change legislation in Congress.
He added: "Both the House and Senate versions of climate legislation call for reductions of 80 percent or more by 2050 (based on 2005 emission levels). So, even if we retired all of our coal-fired plants in the Carolinas and switched to natural gas, we would not meet the CO2 emission reductions targeted for 2050."
The year 2050 is not far away, in terms of the time it takes to plan, site and build power plants, Yates said, and the only way U.S. generation could meet that target would be via nuclear power. Already 46 percent of the utility's power is nuclear. "If we're serious about reducing carbon emissions on an aggressive schedule, without compromising the reliable, affordable electricity Americans depend on, we must recognize both the vital role of advanced nuclear energy, and the need for a flexible, cost-effective and responsible means of bridging the gap between our energy present and our clean energy future."
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