"Itsyourpower.org", the site gives an overview of NPPD's diverse generation resources
– By Mark McFadden –
While the health care debate is garnering much attention these days, climate change debate appears poised for its place on the Congressional floor.
To help the public better understand potential impacts of legislation behind the American Clean Energy and Security Act proposal, the Nebraska Public Power District has updated a website that is available to the public.
Titled, "Itsyourpower.org", the site gives an overview of NPPD's diverse generation resources, the challenges climate change legislation may bring for NPPD and its customers, as well as what NPPD is already doing to address global warming claims and reduce energy use.
"In 2008, forty percent of NPPD's energy generation came from non-carbon emitting resources such as nuclear power, wind and hydro," said NPPD President and CEO Ron Asche. "In addition, we have a strategic goal to increase the amount of renewable energy in our generation mix to 10 percent by 2020. The combination of a diverse generation portfolio and increasing renewable energy generation shows NPPD has a logical approach to further reduce our carbon emissions."
Federal legislation may come in the form of a carbon tax against utilities, a carbon emissions "cap," and/or "trading" of carbon allowances within the industry, and possibly a renewable energy standard requiring utilities to construct or buy more renewable resources. Regardless which form climate change legislation may take, the cost of complying with new legislative or regulatory requirements will be passed on to utility customers through higher electric rates. NPPD will do its utmost to minimize any rate increases.
"The most challenging part of reducing C02 or carbon emissions from burning coal or other fossil fuels is the absence of proven technology available to utilities to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions," said Asche. "It simply is not available for purchase or installation on a commercial-wide scale. NPPD is not alone in asking the question, 'how can we reduce our carbon footprint without significantly raising our customers' electric rates?'"
As a public power state, Nebraska's electric rates are currently fifth lowest in America, according to the Energy Information Administration.
NPPD created Itsyourpower.org with the underlying message that NPPD is a public utility, owned by the people it serves and only allowed to charge what it costs to serve customers.
"Helping our customers understand where their power comes from and how we may be impacted by future legislation is a responsibility we take seriously," said Asche.
Always there when you need us, NPPD's mission is to safely generate and deliver low-cost reliable energy and provide outstanding customer service. For more information about NPPD visit www.nppd.com<http://www.nppd.com>.