Entergy 2008 Annual Report Download - page 25

of the increased costs of an emissions cap. Low-income customers will face a
greater burden as they typically spend a higher percentage of their income on
energy. Recognizing the regressive nature of carbon policy, Entergy believes
assistance must be directed to low-income households to help offset the cost of
any climate change policy.
We believe the data is clear. Now it is up to U.S. Congressional leaders to act.
No Time Like the Present
At Entergy, we spend a great deal of time and resources on measuring and
managing risk. Superior risk management is one reason our utility businesses
continue to succeed in spite of enduring – in the last three years – four of the
worst hurricanes in our history. When we look at the climate change issue from a
risk management perspective, our sense of urgency grows exponentially.
We believe there is a reasonable risk that climate change could result in an
environmental catastrophe – flooding from higher sea levels, devastation from
powerful hurricanes, food and water shortages and the potential loss of half the
Earth’s species. This catastrophe will not occur in our lifetimes but in those of our
children and grandchildren.
Faced with the risk of such a catastrophe, common sense dictates taking urgent
action. If the current financial crisis teaches us anything, it is that ignoring risk
and taking the chance that negative outcomes won’t occur just increases the pain
when they do. We must act now to mitigate the risk of climate change – no matter
our current economic condition. We must act now before it’s too late.
Speaking From Experience
At Entergy, we have already taken voluntary action to stabilize our CO2 emissions.
In 2001 we made our first voluntary five-year commitment to stabilize our CO2
emissions at year 2000 levels. We successfully completed that commitment in 2005
with emission levels that were 23 percent lower than our target.
Subsequently we made our second voluntary five-year commitment – this time
to stabilize our CO2 emissions for 2006 to 2010 at 20 percent below year 2000
levels. From 2006 to 2008, we have performed even better than our voluntary
emission stabilization commitment.
We achieved this performance by taking a comprehensive approach that
includes multiple internal and external projects, including equipment upgrades,
sustainable forestry initiatives and innovative emission reduction trades.
We believe this eight-year performance record of stabilizing CO2 emissions
makes Entergy a credible advocate for action on the climate change issue. We
speak from experience and are hopeful that our actions will encourage a similar
proactive response from others in industry and government.
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 2008
From 2006 to 2008 Entergy
met its second voluntary
commitment to stabilize its
CO2 emissions at 20 percent
below year 2000 levels. We
are strong advocates for a
smart U.S. carbon policy that
includes finding a technology
fix for conventional coal plants,
the single largest source of
CO2 emissions worldwide.
Cumulative CO2 Emissions
2006-2008
million tons
Global CO2 Emissions
From Power Generation
million metric tons
Source:
World Energy Outlook 2008
Gas
Oil
New Coal
Existing Coal
2006
2015
2030
11,435
14,803
18,050
Actual
122.9
2nd Voluntary
Stabilization
Goal
127.7
smart carbon policy
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