Environmental Footprint Progress Summary
Reduce our environmental footprint
Why it matters: As an energy company, we have a large impact on the environment and depend on natural resources for much of our fuel.
PROGRESS | GOALS
- Diversify our fuel mix and address the climate change issue by:
- Promoting U.S. federal policy mandating economy-wide reductions of greenhouse gas emissions
- Creating the option to build new nuclear (carbon free) generation
- Piloting clean coal and other innovative technologies, e.g., advanced integrated gasification combined cycle technology, geological carbon dioxide sequestration
- Securing cost-effective alternative sources of energy
- Reducing, avoiding and/or sequestering at least 10 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents between 2007 and 2015
- Continue to focus on safe, reliable and efficient power plant operations
New goals for 2008
- Continue and expand our efforts to improve air quality by:
- Reducing the nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emission rates of the coal-fired power plants we operate 10% and 35%, respectively, by 2008 compared to 2006
- Reducing the nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compound, particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions from our on-road and non-road vehicle fleet by an average of 35% by 2012 compared to 2006
- Continuing to replace older natural gas lines thereby reducing the number of leaks repaired 20% by 2012 compared to 2007
- Increasing employee participation in our transit subsidy and telecommuting programs
- Minimize the amount of waste requiring disposal by:
- Reducing the amount of low-level radioactive waste (class B and C) generated at our nuclear power plants 25% by 2012 compared to the 2002-2006 average
- Increasing the sale of coal combustion byproducts for beneficial reuse 10% by 2012 compared to 2007
- Measuring solid waste and recycling streams across the company in 2008 to establish baseline data for goal setting and improvement purposes
- Address long-term water supply issues by:
- Conducting water balance surveys during 2008 at plants in areas with scarce or stressed water supply to better understand how water is currently being utilized
- Collaborating with other large water users and withdrawers in the Carolinas as the region experiences continued population growth and drought conditions
- Reduce energy consumption at our largest commercial buildings 10% by 2012 compared to the 2005-2007 average
