Exelon CEO Outlines Top Five Future Energy Imperatives

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a speech at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia event last night at the Union League, Exelon Chairman and CEO John Rowe discussed climate change and the pressing need for effective energy policy with local business and political leaders.

“The demand for energy must be met”

“The demand for energy must be met,” said Rowe. “And it must be met with the least impact upon our climate and the least burden on the U.S. economy.”

Rowe outlined the five elements he believes are imperative to U.S. energy policy:

1. Federal, mandatory, economy-wide climate legislation

2. Support for energy efficiency and conservation across the entire economy, including new standards as well as programs and investment by utilities

3. An economically responsible approach to renewable energy

4. Financial support for new low-carbon, base load generation, such as clean coal and next-generation nuclear

5. Continued commitment to competitive electricity markets to spur investment and innovation in new low-carbon solutions

As part of the address, Rowe explained how Exelon plans to reduce energy consumption in its buildings across the U.S. by 25 percent within the next five years.

The energy reduction goal is part of Exelon’s comprehensive plan for addressing climate change, Exelon 2020: A Low Carbon Roadmap, which will reduce, offset or displace more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. This is more than the company’s current annual carbon footprint and the equivalent of taking nearly 3 million cars off the roads.

Exelon’s local energy delivery company, PECO, has launched the first phase of a five-year environmental plan supporting Exelon 2020. The comprehensive program – totaling more than $15.3 million of work – includes the opening of PECO’s first ‘green building’ in West Chester, the installation of a green roof and a new Crown Lights system at the company’s Center City headquarters, work to secure Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for many company work sites, and environmental and energy efficiency community and customer support.

Rowe is the longest-serving chief executive in the energy industry. He was among the first CEOs in the utility industry to focus on the issue of climate change and testified before Congress on the subject in 1992. Rowe currently serves as chair of the Nuclear Energy Institute and co-chair of the bipartisan National Commission on Energy Policy and has previously chaired the Edison Electric Institute. Exelon is also a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

Rowe’s speech to the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is available on the Exelon Web site – www.exeloncorp.com.

Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with nearly $19 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of the industry’s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois and Pennsylvania and natural gas to 480,000 customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC.