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Competitive Electricity Suppliers Are Critical to Achieving a Low Carbon Future, EPSA Says
"What comes out of RD&D must be successfully deployed in order to actually lower carbon emissions. That's where competitive markets matter."
WASHINGTON, D.C. - John E. Shelk, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), reaffirmed that competitive electricity suppliers are leaders in adopting more efficient and innovative methods of generating electricity to meet the nation's future electricity needs at a U.S. Department of Commerce conference on "Powering Our Low Carbon Future" here yesterday. Shelk made his remarks as co-chair of a panel on research, development and demonstration of low-carbon technologies.
Shelk said, "Competitive suppliers are leading the way to powering our low carbon future, the goal of this conference. We already are helping to reduce the nation's carbon footprint through our sector's deployment of cleaner and more efficient natural gas technology and more efficient operation of existing nuclear and coal plants. We also lead the way in renewable technologies, as the robust growth of wind generation in organized power markets demonstrates."
"The panel discussion on RD&D verified that what comes out of RD&D must be successfully deployed in order to actually lower carbon emissions. That's where competitive markets matter," Shelk said. Organized markets provide greater ease of access to the grid and clearer market signals to encourage investment in renewables and innovative technologies. EPSA members are pushing forward on wind, solar, geothermal, clean coal and filed the first applications for new nuclear plants in over a decade.
Shelk said, "We agree with last week's comments by FERC Chairman Kelliher that competitive wholesale markets spur innovation and are central to addressing climate change concerns. We appreciate that the Administration's FY09 budget released just this week reaffirms support for competitive wholesale markets."
At EPSA's annual meeting last month, EPSA member company executives underscored their commitment to achieving a lower carbon future and devoted a significant portion of the meeting to discussion of how policy makers can help competitive suppliers to reach that goal. Shelk said, "We need consistent government policies and support to reach our low carbon future, including federal climate legislation, reliable budget support for RD&D, and access to the transmission grid and the markets it serves."
CONTACT: JOHN SHELK
(202) 349-0154or 703-472-8660
EPSA is the national trade association representing competitive power suppliers, including generators and marketers. These suppliers, who account for nearly 40 percent of the installed generating capacity in the United States, provide reliable and competitively priced electricity from environmentally responsible facilities serving global power markets. EPSA seeks to bring the benefits of competition to all power customers.