By Brian DeRoy
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Progress Energy is trying to avoid expanding the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant, by raising rates and making a big push to get its customers to save energy.
"We want to double the amount of energy efficiency we currently are able to use," said Progress Energy spokesman Mike Hughes. "If we can achieve that through efficiency, we can delay the need to build new power plants."
The company has said it does not plan to build any new nuclear plants until at least 2018.
Nuclear plant opponents are cheering the decision to delay a new reactor at the Shearon Harris plant. They want other energy options explored.
"There are ample wind resources in North Carolina that are untapped, and we also have hydro resources," said Shana Becker, a member of the N.C. Public Interest Research Group. "Nuclear energy and the toxic byproducts are dangerous, expensive.”
Progress Energy wants to raise its rates, and use the extra revenue to develop energy efficiency programs and offer rebates for customers who use energy-efficient appliances.
Kip Guyon is the head of Anderson Homes. The company is one of just a handful of local builders constructing Energy Star rated homes.
"When you compare our houses with homes built prior to 1996, they're at least 30-percent more energy efficient," said Guyon.
That could amount to around $900 a year depending on one’s energy use.
With people continually moving to the Triangle, all sides agree a new energy source is needed.
Hughes said, "In 10 years we expect our system to grow by the equivalent of Wake County."
