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New industry data prove new
coal and nuclear plants
are not needed
Speak out
for climate protection.
Duke Energy, Progress Energy and their political
allies want to gamble tens of billions of public dollars to build
(lucrative) coal and nuclear power plants. That path is already
squandering our chances to avert climate catastrophe. Continuing
disclosures prove that energy efficiency, cogeneration and renewable power
can meet our growing population needs while cutting greenhouse gases and
power bills.
The NC Utilities Commission will address the power
companies’ forecasts for supply and demand – new power plants vs. clean,
efficient energy:
Clean energy advocates and experts have won these
debates before, but without public and media scrutiny, the politically
appointed Commissioners usually rule for the power companies. It’s very
important that you attend, give public testimony, and if able, show the
commissioners the public is watching THEM, as our experts make winning
arguments. If you can make the daytime legal hearing, please
do! You will find it interesting.
If these new coal and nuclear-fired dinosaurs
had to compete in open markets, they’d never be built.
They’re alive due to regulated (protected) utility status and rates in the
Southeast, billions in federal subsidies – and because in 2007 North
Carolina’s legislators shifted the immense risks of new plants, including
prepayment, onto customers.
Plants planned by Duke and Progress in the
Carolinas have tripled in estimated cost while still on the drawing
board – now around $35 billion. This could cost the average family
over $12,000 in higher bills in just the first 10 years - less than half
that amount could make every home energy efficient, add solar hot water,
and rapidly reduce greenhouse gases.
☼ New industry
data confirms a large surplus of regional electric capacity.
Data from the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council shows
that Duke, Progress and other regional utilities plan to overbuild by more
than 60 large power plants so they can increase sales to other regions
with higher electricity rates. See more at the top of
www.ncwarn.org
☼ Duke Energy’s
own study shows Cliffside, new nukes aren’t needed.
A newly exposed 2007 study commissioned by Duke Energy proves
the company could reduce nearly one-fifth of its electricity demand
through cost-effective efficiency programs over 18 years. Progress
Energy could achieve similar savings. But despite Duke CEO Rogers’
much-hyped “Save-a-watt” proposal, Duke’s filings project less than 2%
energy savings over 20 years.
☼ Energy experts
confirm that Cliffside, new nukes aren’t needed.
Duke University economist John Blackburn further dispels the
need for Duke and Progress Energy to gamble tens of billions of public
dollars on new coal and nuclear plants. He shows that with only 10%
energy efficiency, along with minimal renewable energy and cogeneration (a
huge resource that remains untapped due to utility obstruction), Duke can
avoid building risky new plants.
☼ The NC
legislature’s study shows Cliffside, new nukes aren’t needed.
A 2007 state-commissioned study found that across NC, 14% in
energy-saving is achievable, even without including key technologies such
as solar water heating.
☼ So why haven’t
Cliffside and new nukes already been cancelled?
Because our democracy is wounded – with most elected officials
and news media deferring to the power companies and accepting their money
instead of scrutinizing their actions. Because our perverse rate system
rewards Duke and Progress for building the most expensive power plants.
Because those corporations impede energy efficiency and renewables even
while spending millions of customer dollars painting themselves “green.”
Both Duke and Progress operate programs that encourage
customers to waste energy. In March, the Commission forced
them to stop expanding one such program – but allowed 160,000 customers to
keep using it.
Efficiency and conservation are urgently needed for
reduction of greenhouse gases. The world’s top scientists warn that
current weather extremes and wildfires will keep increasing, and that
global warming is very close to irreversible, catastrophic tipping points.
The Commission, elected officials and news media must
require the power companies to fully explain why they should be allowed to
spend public money on high-risk, dangerous new plants that are not needed –
while stifling efforts for widespread efficiency and renewables.
“Sinking tens of billions of dollars into
new nuclear power plants and
large coal plants will significantly limit the expenditures on other
sources
of energy … a series of reasonable adjustments to the demand forecasts can
postpone or eliminate the need for new and expensive generating plants.”
-Dr. John Blackburn,
former chair of economics at Duke University and renewable energy expert.
Read his pre-filed
testimony for NC WARN: http://ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us/cgi-bin/webview/senddoc.pgm?dispfmt=&itype=Q&authorization=&parm2=GBAAAA55180B&parm3=000127213
Please also send
written comments:
NC Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC
27699-4325 or email Chairman Edward Finley:
finley@ncuc.net Re: Docket
number E-100, Sub 114
Candidates, public
officials and news media need to hear from you. Most have
ignored arguments for statewide clean energy – including the urgency of
climate change.
June 2008
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