John Rowe, Exelon CEO, On Clean Energy: 'I'm Asking That Congress Do Nothing'

WASHINGTON -- The CEO of the nation's biggest nuclear power producer says Congress should get out of the way as the nation moves toward natural gas and other forms of clean energy.

John Rowe, CEO of Chicago-based Exelon, said that in trying to boost "clean" energy – wind, solar, nuclear and natural gas – Congress and states have enacted or proposed bills that would burden consumers, cripple markets and increase federal debt but do little to clean up the air.

In a speech to the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, Rowe said his message to lawmakers is simple: "I'm asking that Congress do nothing."

Rowe said utilities across the country are turning to "cheap" natural gas to generate electricity and do not need a clean energy standard proposed by President Barack Obama.

Comments

[BD2205]

01:52 PM on 03/14/2011

Oh sir, yes we do need more regulation - so much for considering nuclear energy a clean energy technology. By the way, how many solar panels and wind farms exploded today?

[Kringle]

12:29 PM on 03/14/2011

Geothermal + increased Energy Efficiency

Break the "Grid" and look into home- or business-based energy generation, which has tremendous efficiency over "Grid"-based solutions.

[Gordon Soderberg]

03:19 AM on 03/13/2011

Congress should get out of the way? AYFKM? Just let fracking continue to pollute the water systems?

[abbienormal]

12:22 PM on 03/13/2011

In light of the catastrophe in Japan, I think that the Excelon CEO should spend more time upping the company's insurance coverage and less time thinking about Congressional priorities.

Not to mention, he is at odds with the CEOs of many other utility companies.

Fanned, BTW.

[PAGasDriller]

12:38 PM on 03/13/2011

Continue to? That would imply that they ever were... which would be a false implication.

[angusmciver]

12:54 PM on 03/13/2011

Oh yea, gas drilling is another one of those green, clean energies. Those operations don't cause any environmental pollution problems?? Wake up as you're dreaming.

[NewmanKitten]

06:26 PM on 03/12/2011

Okay...so suppose that they have found a way to dispose of nuclear waste and actually turning it into more energy that has no waste.

But then, how do we build a reactor that won't collapse when we have earthquakes of 9...or more?

TILT

[Monk Monkey]

12:24 PM on 03/12/2011

Nuclear....and other forms of clean energy.

Ridiculous.

Hey Russia, how'd that clean energy work out for you?

[Marcospinelli]

12:48 AM on 03/13/2011

http://www.blainekendall.com/uploads/blog/chernobyl.jpg

[Freedomaphile]

06:31 AM on 03/12/2011

Send John Rowe a copy of the article about the pollution in Wyoming cause by natural gas production.

[minidriver]

10:07 PM on 03/11/2011

Oh sorry, the repubs currently get their best kickbacks from oil companies (ex: Joe Barton). The only way they would be interested in clean energy is if they could provide sufficient grease on their palms.

[kamachanda]

09:53 PM on 03/11/2011

Cheap natural gas equals fracking, which pollutes groundwater and destroys the environment. John Rowe is asking that congress stand by and allow corporations to destroy the environment (wherever natural gas can be found) without regulation, responsibility or liability. They get rich and we get cancer.

[PAGasDriller]

12:41 PM on 03/13/2011

FYI, the states all have very strict regulations on drilling. Just because there is not much federal oversight does not mean that there is NO oversight. No one is getting cancer.

inform yourself. This man will show you the way. johnhanger.blogspot.com

[kamachanda]

12:59 PM on 03/13/2011

I am informed, while you have an apparent vested interest in drilling.
I suspect you have no interest in expanding your awareness, but you could try: http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/

[i the ys]

08:57 PM on 03/11/2011

So that's the reason Congress does nothing.

If PRO = for something
and CON = against something
what is the opposite of PROGRESS?

[beau taylor]

10:13 PM on 03/11/2011

And the answer is??? CON,,, yea! we win. Congress is just waiting to see who's supposed to go first.

[jsgaetano]

08:09 PM on 03/11/2011

Well of course.  When there are problems which need solving, that's exactly what conservatives have to offer America- nothing.

[PAGasDriller]

12:46 PM on 03/13/2011

Dems had control of the congress and presidency up until a few months ago. Where were all of your miracle cure all legislative achievements? The Dems are not any different than the GOP. I applaud getting dont ask dont tell repealed, but what about closing GITMO and all of the other things Obama promised (I was in support of MANY of his reforms, including GITMO)?

We can't wait on congress to solve our problems for us. We need to solve them ourselves. Having a clean, plentiful domestic energy source would solve or greatly improve so many things it would make your head spin. economy. national security, healthcare, defense spending, terrorism I could go on for an hour... You owe it to yourself and your country to become truly informed about fracking. It's demonized here on these blogs, but such views are ignorant.

johnhanger.blogspot.com

[kamachanda]

01:03 PM on 03/13/2011

You certainly know all the talking points of the pseudo-certain occupants of the right wing echo chamber! If you paid attention you would know that the Blue Dog democrats were little more than right leaning moderate republicans who are not welcome in the new far right GOP. You would also know that Lieberman has been little more than a right winger determined to get vengeance on those who wouldn't give him the Presidency.

[jsgaetano]

11:51 PM on 03/13/2011

Dems had control of the congress and presidency up until a few months ago.

 
It's amazing how often I have to point out to the politically naive that "conservatives" isn't a political party.

[OnAndOnSOH]

06:51 PM on 03/11/2011

Frack.

[RageVsMachine]

04:20 PM on 03/11/2011

I'll ask that the cops do nothing when I'm toking. Ya right.. I wish. Only if you're a powerful corporation can you get away with this crA-p

[Imagine 39]

12:49 PM on 03/11/2011

We all know that the American Enterprise institute is the bastion of forward thinking for our country. Why doesn't John Rowe just say "to hell with the country, my corporate checks in the mail".
And it's not always about cost. Cost comes down with economies of scale. I just heard in a debate that all of the oil industries costs have been externalized to tax payers in the form of wars, clean up and subsidies. Why not add those costs to what we pay and see how fast people run to alternatives. Alcohol as a fuel, wind and solar would all be cheaper and better for our environment over time. Alcohol is a temporary fix but we can use its benefit immediately with our current infrastructure and stop using foreign oil.
http://alcoholcanbeagas.com/

[jsgaetano]

08:12 PM on 03/11/2011

Actually, we can just switch over to biofuels... and I'm talking about the kind made with garbage, not by the method conservatives use to drive up both food and gas prices.
 
America generates more garbage than any other civilization in human history.  We can easily start putting some of that garbage to good use.

[Imagine 39]

12:39 PM on 03/11/2011

How can you use "clean energy" and natural gas in the same sentence when peoples water is catching on fire?

[SoreEyes]

10:28 AM on 03/12/2011

Talking about an oxymoron, how about clean coal or worse yet: clean nuclear?