THE SERENDIPITY OF COAL

State regulators set standards for renewable energy sources
Lisa Sorg, December 6, 2006 (Independent Weekly of North Carolina)
- You have to appreciate the serendipity: On the heels of Duke Energy's announcement that it will cost $3 billion—not $2 billion, as originally projected—to build its two proposed coal-fired power plants, the state is unveiling its renewable energy study…

- According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 23 states and the District of Columbia have a Renewable Portfolio Standard, although if North Carolina adopted one, it would be the first southeastern state to do so…
- States adopt these standards for environmental and economic reasons…Economically, the N.C. State Energy Office estimates renewables could create 3,000 jobs, while decreasing the $15 billion the state spends to import energy.
- Several state environmental groups, including the N.C. Sustainable Energy Coalition, are urging the state to adopt a renewable standard…the utilities are expected to oppose it…
- Duke Energy has made few inroads into renewable energy, and its efforts pale in comparison to many utilities. CPS Energy, a municipally owned utility in San Antonio with 640,000 customers, provides more than 260 megawatts of renewable energy, primarily wind…Duke Energy, with more than 2 million customers in North Carolina, buys biomass-generated and hydroelectric power. Total megawatts: 19.