The states are increasingly viewed as emerging laboratories
of change in energy. This is particularly true with the federal government's failure to forge a clear national energy policy. There is a growing consensus that keeping the lights on, developing renewable energy to the maximum of its potential, developing new nuclear generation and clean coal technology, and creating a grid to stitch it all together, will take an unprecedented level of spending. By one estimate, developed by the Edison Electric Institute, the power industry will be spending $75 billion a year this year and next and there are indications those figures may be climbing. Sitting in judgment of many of these investments will be state utility regulators. Given the frequent turnover in their ranks -- their average tenure is about four years -- will they know what needs to get done and in what order? To discuss these and other major issues, EnergyBiz recently sat down with eight state regulators. One participant, James Y. Kerr II, recently left the North Carolina commission after serving seven years. Their comments, edited for style and length, follow.
The states are increasingly viewed as emerging laboratories
of change in energy. This is particularly true with the federal government's failure to forge a clear national energy policy. There is a growing consensus that keeping the lights on, developing renewable energy to the maximum of its potential, developing new nuclear generation and clean coal technology, and creating a grid to stitch it all together, will take an unprecedented level of spending. By one estimate, developed by the Edison Electric Institute, the power industry will be spending $75 billion a year this year and next and there are indications those figures may be climbing. Sitting in judgment of many of these investments will be state utility regulators. Given the frequent turnover in their ranks -- their average tenure is about four years -- will they know what needs to get done and in what order? To discuss these and other major issues, EnergyBiz recently sat down with eight state regulators. One participant, James Y. Kerr II, recently left the North Carolina commission after serving seven years. Their comments, edited for style and length, follow.
The states are increasingly viewed as emerging laboratories
of change in energy. This is particularly true with the federal government's failure to forge a clear national energy policy. There is a growing consensus that keeping the lights on, developing renewable energy to the maximum of its potential, developing new nuclear generation and clean coal technology, and creating a grid to stitch it all together, will take an unprecedented level of spending. By one estimate, developed by the Edison Electric Institute, the power industry will be spending $75 billion a year this year and next and there are indications those figures may be climbing. Sitting in judgment of many of these investments will be state utility regulators. Given the frequent turnover in their ranks -- their average tenure is about four years -- will they know what needs to get done and in what order? To discuss these and other major issues, EnergyBiz recently sat down with eight state regulators. One participant, James Y. Kerr II, recently left the North Carolina commission after serving seven years. Their comments, edited for style and length, follow.

New Era, New Rules

 

The states are increasingly viewed as emerging laboratories of change in energy. This is particularly true with the federal government's failure to forge a clear national energy policy.

There is a growing consensus that keeping the lights on, developing renewable energy to the maximum of its potential, developing new nuclear generation and clean coal technology, and creating a grid to stitch it all together, will take an unprecedented level of spending. By one estimate, developed by the Edison Electric Institute, the power industry will be spending $75 billion a year this year and next and there are indications those figures may be climbing.

Sitting in judgment of many of these investments will be state utility regulators. Given the frequent turnover in their ranks -- their average tenure is about four years -- will they know what needs to get done and in what order?

To discuss these and other major issues, EnergyBiz recently sat down with eight state regulators. One participant, James Y. Kerr II, recently left the North Carolina commission after serving seven years. Their comments, edited for style and length, follow.

For the full article go to:  http://energycentral.fileburst.com/EnergyBizOnline/2008-6-nov-dec/FA_New_Era.pdf