New era may end need for fossil fuel—(Delaware's) Energy goals raise barrier for conventional plants

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090809/BUSINESS/908090359/1003/New%20era%20may%20end%20need%20for%20fossil%20fuel

New era may end need for fossil fuel

Energy goals raise barrier for conventional plants

By JEFF MONTGOMERY • The News Journal • August 9, 2009

Coal is dying as a fuel for generating power for Delaware's homes and businesses.

Even the so-called "clean-coal technologies" under consideration just two years ago as a backup to a proposed offshore wind project near Rehoboth would be a long shot today.

Newly approved conservation and clean-energy mandates have raised nearly insurmountable barriers to building more fossil-fueled power plants to supply utilities in Delaware or even importing a bigger share of fossil power, putting the state on the brink of a new energy era.

The measures require consideration of renewable-energy options before any new conventional power supplies can even be considered. They also require a 15 percent reduction in the amount of electricity sold by 2015 and a 10 percent cut in natural-gas use.

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