Bucking Industry, Exelon Urges EPA To Strengthen Gas Standard In NSPS

摘要

Exelon Corp., one of the nation's largest utilities, is breaking from other players in the industry to urge EPA to tighten its proposed limit for new natural gas plants in its new source performance standard (NSPS) earlier this year, aligning itself with environmental groups also seeking a stricter limit than what the agency proposed. One consultant says the company is likely trying to make new natural gas electricity more expensive in a bid to protect its existing nuclear fleet, the largest in the country, that includes almost one quarter of all nuclear units. "Exelon owns the largest fleet of nukes in the U.S. And ultimately they want the price of natural gas to increase so as to make their nukes more competitive," the consultant says. An Exelon spokesman declined to comment on why the company is seeking a tighter limit for gas plants under the NSPS, saying, "We prefer to let our comments on this topic speak for themselves."