BENDING OVER BACKWARDS FOR DUKE NUCLEAR

During Al Gore’s testimony before a congressional subcommittee, Congressman Bob Inglis explained to Gore that Jim Rogers of Duke Energy wants to build a nuclear plant but may be forced by economics to build a more environmentally harmful coal plant. Gore replied that he understood the problems and sympathized (but saw future energy going away from giant, centralized facilities which create greenhouse gases OR nuclear waste). This story reflects how badly North Carolina wants its next step in energy generation to be nuclear.

N.C. Gives O.K. For Duke Energy To Seek Payment Now For Future Plant
March 21, 2007 (AP vai WXII12.com)

WHO
North Carolina Utilities Commission

WHAT
Regulators granted permission for Duke Energy to raise present electricity rates to cover costs of a two reactor nuclear facility in the planning stages.

WHEN
Tuesday, March 21, 2007

WHERE
The planned nuclear facility will be in Cherokee County, S.C. The rate increases apply to Carolina Duke Energy customers.

WHY
State law does not allow a utility to recover power plant costs until the plant is running. But Duke said it faced an unacceptable financial risk otherwise, due to political opposition to nuclear plants and the high failure rate of such plans.

QUOTES
“My job is, when you throw on the switch, I need to be there." Jim Rogers, Duke Energy