Ohio RPS Includes Nuclear Energy

From the Toledo Blade:

Gov. Ted Strickland's energy proposal calls for Ohio's electric utilities to invest heavily in renewable and advanced energy, but it remains to be seen how much of a hammer the state would swing to make it happen.

The administration has not said what would happen to a utility if it fails to meet the requirement that 25 percent of its power supply come from "advanced energy'' by 2025.

That category would include fuel cell, clean coal, and nuclear technology as well as "green'' sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and landfill gases.

"We want that standard to be firm, but we also understand that it would be desirable for us to have a kind of flexibility as we move toward achieving that standard,'' Mr. Strickland said.

"I would expect the [Public Utilities Commission of Ohio] to continue to monitor the efforts toward achieving that standard.''

In addition to the broader 25 percent-by-2025-standard, the much-anticipated plan the governor unveiled Wednesday requires at least half of that, or 12.5 percent, to come from renewable sources.

And half of the total advanced energy standard must come from power generated in Ohio.

This is great news. All over the country, the industry has been fighting to have nuclear energy included in Renewable Portfolio Standards in recognition of its role in constraining greenhouse gas emissions. Bravo to Gov. Strickland for recognizing this in his proposal.

For more on climate change initiatives that recognize the role nuclear energy can play in constraining greenhouse gas emissions, click here.