FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff spoke yesterday at the Nuclear Energy Assembly in Washington D.C. and appears to be having a change of heart on the future of nuclear and coal in this country. He was previously quoted as saying that no new nuclear or coal plants may ever be needed (see my previous blog). When challenged about these comments, Chairman Wellinghoff stated that due to renewable energy and new technology you could imagine a scenario in which large central plants such as coal and nuclear may not be needed. I personally don’t see a feasible “scenario” where new base load energy won’t be necessary, but as Chairman Wellinghoff said, “Ultimately, though, it doesn’t matter what might be a rational or irrational scenario. What matters is what the markets will do.”
