Just one week after PG&E announced it would defect from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in protest over the organization's "extreme" climate change position, Exelon Corporation announced that it will also now leave the organization.
John Rowe of Exelon said in a speech on Monday that inaction on climate is not an option.
Exelon is the largest nuclear power operator in the nation.
And while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues to fall victim to the future - instead of embracing it - the investment community continues to move forward.
According to a new report from Greentech Media, cleantech investments climbed to $1.9 billion during the third quarter. More than half of the new investment was funneled into solar and a combined category of biofuels, gasification and cleaner coal. For the sake of clarification, it should be understood that even with carbon sequestration, coal still carries other environmental burdens.
The fact is, a typical 500MW coal plant. . .
Draws about 2.2 billion gallons of water each year from nearby lakes and rivers. (That's enough water to support a city of approximately 250,000 people)
Generates 170 pounds of mercury. And it only takes 1/70th of a teaspoon in a 25-acre lake to make fish unsafe to eat.
Relies on the transportation of coal - which requires diesel for trucks and rail, and bunker fuel for ships.
And let us not forget the massive coal ash spill that hit Kingston, TN last year. Certainly the residents of that area haven't. That's going to be a 3-year, $1 billion clean up effort, according to the environmental cleanup expert from the DOE.
Just something to keep in mind if you're analyzing the long-term potential of cleaner coal investing.
Jeff
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