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TXU Sheds Coal Plan, Charts Nuclear Path

TXU Corp., which made news when it scrapped plans to build 11 coal-fired power plants in Texas, is now turning its attention to nuclear instead. It’s looking to build the biggest nuclear power plants in the U.S. in Texas. NRG Energy Inc., Exelon Corp. and Amarillo Power are also eyeing Texas. Texas could end up having more reactors than any other state with 10 years. This would make Texas a proving ground for what many see as a nuclear renaissance. Because utilities in Texas no longer have monopolies in their territories, customers can switch suppliers at will. Therefore, nuclear plants have to make economic sense. TXU officials hope the huge reactors they’re planning will achieve economies of scale and thus, cheap electric prices. The reactors would be 1,700 megawatts each, 50% larger than existing plants. TXU says it wants to build between two and five new plants. That might change however, when its $32 billion acquisition goes through – when the company is taken private by Kolhberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and TPG, formerly Texas Pacific Group.

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Poll: Women Business Owners Most Concerned About Environment, Health Care

While this was the fifth year that health care concerns ranked first among concerns for women business owners, nearly two-thirds believe that global warming and environmental changes will affect them professionally and/or personally. 52% of women surveyed said they plan to alter business practices to either conserve energy or become more environmentally responsible, and 35% reported offering technological initiatives and/or business/service product offerings to increase energy efficiencies. 45% of women business owners want the government to use both incentives and regulations to encourage conservation. The 2007 “What Business Women Want” bipartisan national survey was conducted Jan. 22 – Feb. 9 and included 400 respondents. Read the complete survey: Website: http://www.wipp.org     

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ConocoPhillips Backs Cuts in Greenhouse Gases

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is now the second oil company (after Britain’s British Petroleum (BP) to call for mandatory U.S. rules to reduce greenhouse gases. The company says it will set targets to cut emissions from its operations. ConocoPhillips announced it would join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which consists of Fortune 500 companies that are calling on the the federal government to quickly enact laws requiring cuts to greenhouse gases. “We recognize that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate,” ConocoPhillips Chief Executive Jim Mulva said.

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US EPA Finalizes Renewable Fuel Standards

The US EPA has finalized the nation’s first comprehensive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. At a press conference today, EPA Administrator Johnson, joined by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole Nason, discussed the RFS program, increasing the use of alternative fuels and modernizing CAFE standards for cars. “The Renewable Fuel Standard offers the American people a hat trick ­ it protects the environment, strengthens our energy security, and supports America’s farmers,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Today, we’re taking an important first step toward meeting President Bush’s “20 in 10″ goal of jumping off the treadmill of foreign oil dependency.” “While we must look at increasing the availability of renewable and alternative fuels, we must also continue to improve the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks,” said Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “As a part of the President’s “20 in 10″ energy security plan, we need Congress to give the Secretary of Transportation the authority to reform the current passenger car fuel economy standard.” Authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the RFS program requires that the equivalent of at least 7.5 billion gallons […]

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