Via World Nuclear News comes this quote from the Charlotte Observer:

The construction of new nuclear power plants would be the only viable way for Duke Energy to meet increasing electricity demand should carbon emission taxes be introduced, according to Jim Rogers, the company’s CEO. Duke needs to build new power plants in order to meet demand, but a carbon tax would cost the company heavily if it constructed more coal-fired plants. Rogers said: “The only way we could do it is with nuclear. The higher the price (of carbon) goes, the stronger the case for nuclear.” . . .

In January 2007, Rogers called nuclear energy “almost the perfect choice” for Duke.

by Jarret Adams

But it is not all about nuclear energy. AREVA also believes in the power of renewables to create significant numbers of green jobs, and we are working to expand our business in this sector.

Specifically, AREVA has partnered with Duke Energy to form ADAGE, which is focused on developing advanced biopower (biomass to electricity) plants in the United States. These facilities too will produce significant numbers of green jobs. Each facility will create 400 jobs during construction and about 100 jobs during operation. The goal of ADAGE is to build 10-12 new plants over the next six years—this means thousands of new jobs to say nothing of the additional green power they will produce.

In February, ADAGE signed a preliminary agreement with Energy Northwest to develop biopower plants in the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The goal is to market the facilities to the 24 member companies of Energy Northwest with the hope of building one or more in the four-state region.