Energy Regulatory Chief Says New Coal, Nuclear Plants May Be Unnecessary

[babylonsister]

Energy Regulatory Chief Says New Coal, Nuclear Plants May Be Unnecessary

By NOELLE STRAUB AND PETER BEHR, Greenwire
Published: April 22, 2009


No new nuclear or coal plants may ever be needed in the United States, the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said today.

"We may not need any, ever," Jon Wellinghoff told reporters at a U.S. Energy Association forum.

The FERC chairman's comments go beyond those of other Obama administration officials, who have strongly endorsed greater efficiency and renewables deployment but also say nuclear and fossil energies will continue playing a major role.

Wellinghoff's view also goes beyond the consensus outlook in the electric power industry about future sources of electricity. The industry has assumed that more baseload generation would provide part of an increasing demand for power, along with a rapid deployment of renewable generation, smart grid technologies and demand reduction strategies.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/04/22/22greenwire-no-need-to-build-new-us-coal-or-nuclear-plants-10630.html

[Laelth]

1. I am very impressed by Secretary Chu.

Wellinghoff? Not so much.

:dem:

-Laelth

[babylonsister]

2. Why not? I'd love to know that coal and nuclear energy

can be written off in this fight.