"It makes sense to invite an energy leader such as Ralph Izzo to deliver the keynote address at the third Solutions conference," said Adam Markham, executive director of Clean Air-Cool Planet. "The conference hosts the broad discussion about the range of options we need to employ to solve the greatest problem facing our society, global warming, in part by aligning the interests of energy companies with the environmental needs of our nation."

In his keynote, Izzo stated, "If we do not redefine our future, climate change will redefine us." He continued, "Climate change is not only a threat, it is an opportunity to apply the enormous capacity of this nation to innovate and chart a new path of sustainable growth."

Izzo outlined the three-point strategy PSEG has proposed for New Jersey to meet its aggressive energy and emission reduction targets:

- First and foremost, conservation and energy-efficiency improvements
- Second, renewable energy such as solar and wind
- Third central-station power plants, whether nuclear, clean coal or natural gas.

Izzo stressed that the top priority must be conservation and energy efficiency, adding, "The power plant that doesn't need to be built is the cleanest of all."

He observed that consumers and businesses are not making economically sensible conservation decisions and that, unless they are empowered to do so, significant opportunities to combat global warming will be lost.

Izzo said, "Utilities can be one of society's most powerful allies in the quest for efficiency. Just as utilities made universal access to energy a reality in the 20th century, so too, we could make universal access to energy efficiency a reality in the 21st." He pointed out that utilities have relationships with customers, an existing trained workforce, a strong understanding of energy use, patient capital and a long-term focus. "Utilities are in a unique position to promote energy efficiency, house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood. And to do so in ways that include urban residents, low-income customers and renters -- ensuring that the benefits of energy efficiency are available to all," he added.

Izzo also discussed the key role that utilities can play a role in promoting renewables and developing new, clean central power. He noted that while states and companies need to be taking action now, "the time has come for Congress to act and establish a federal cap-and-trade legislation with meaningful and mandatory greenhouse gas reductions."

The complete text of Izzo's remarks can be found at www.pseg.com in the "News" section.

Clean Air-Cool Planet, the region's leading organization dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global warming, creates partnerships in the Northeast to implement solutions to climate change and build constituencies for effective climate policies and actions.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News