Jan
25
Written by:
Dan Besse
1/25/2007
"Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy sources are the smart way to go," says Besse. "We can cut air pollution, fight global warming, and save big money for consumers at the same time."
Besse made the recommendation to a meeting Wednesday of the Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG), which is formulating proposals for helping North Carolina to slow global warming. Besse is a member of the panel, appointed to bring his experience in local government and state environmental policies to its deliberations.
Research staff assisting the CAPAG panel said that requiring utilities to adopt an "environmental portfolio standard" could dramatically cut emissions of gases which contribute to global warming.
They also calculated that this approach could save electric customers as much as $1.8 billion in lower electric bills. Energy efficiency measures in particular are far less expensive than generating the same amount of electricity from nuclear or coal-fired power plants.
As energy prices rise and the environmental and national security importance of energy policy grows, elected officials are increasingly called on to deal with energy issues. Besse, whose background in this issue is especially strong, is expected to formally announce next week his plans to seek the Democratic nomination for N.C. Lieutenant Governor in 2008.
An "environmental portfolio standard" would require that electric utilities obtain a minimum percentage of their electric generating capacity from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, or biofuels, and through investment in energy efficiency measures that would reduce electric demand by an equivalent amount. Utilities would be given several years to phase in the required clean energy sources and efficiency measures.
The environmental portfolio standard is one of more than 50 draft proposals under consideration by the CAPAG. The panel is composed of policy experts and representatives from a broad range of backgrounds and economic interests. It was established in 2005 to help advise the North Carolina Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources and state legislative study panels on options for addressing the problem of global climate change.
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