Staff editorials
2011
The 2011 Powering a Nation staff has spent the last 10 weeks developing a project that shows the complexities of our relationship with coal. We hope that you will see how coal powers our lives and get a sense of what that means for people on different sides of the issue.
2010
Ten weeks of reporting and research have resulted in the UNC News21 team understanding U.S. energy needs to undergo sea change. Industry, government and consumers must redefine their roles, actions and relationships with one another to deliver us from the fossil fuel era.
Confronting the new energy realities together
A casual drive through an established North Carolina neighborhood or down a former country highway presents not only a clear picture of the state’s rapid growth, but also a vivid snapshot of the dramatic changes in our energy use over the last three decades.Since the mid-1970s, the number of homes and businesses served by Progress Energy Carolinas has doubled, and the average household’s energy consumption has increased by 46 percent. Our world has become much more aware of global climate issues and the factors that affect climate change. In the United States, we recognize the growing value of energy security, as well as fuel and technology diversity. We also know that pursuing these and other priorities will drive up energy prices in the years ahead.
These are the new energy realities that we must confront together. Policymakers, regulators and customers need to understand what’s at stake and work together on a common approach.
Meeting the challenges of growth reliably and responsibly requires a balanced energy strategy that combines aggressive energy efficiency, investments in renewable and alternative energy sources and state-of-the-art power plants. We can’t rely exclusively on any single element. The balance is critical because there is so much at stake.
As a regulated electric utility, we have the responsibility to provide reliable and affordable electricity 24/7 to all our customers. This means we can’t wait till the electric system is overloaded to begin planning for responsible expansion.
It also means that even with greater efficiency and a significant investment in intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, we will still need to build new baseload power plants--those that operate 24 hours a day to meet constant energy demands. That’s why it is critical that we continue to keep our energy supply options open, including building new carbon-free, state-of-the-art nuclear power plants.
These are the new energy realities. North Carolina is growing. Demand for electricity is growing. The need for reliable, affordable and environmentally sound energy will continue to increase.
Balancing these priorities, and the many important perspectives represented in North Carolina, is a big challenge. There is a lot riding on the outcome, and we need to get it right, so that when future generations flip the switch, the lights continue to come on.
Bill Johnson is chairman, CEO and president of Progress Energy, which serves 3.1 million households and businesses in the Carolinas and Florida.