PSEG: One of lowest carbon emissions rates among largest U.S. power producers

PSEG announced it has one of the lowest carbon emissions rates of the nation’s largest power producers. As the deputy general counsel and managing director of environment at PSEG, I couldn’t be more proud of our achievements to date and the continued efforts across the company as we strive towards a clean energy future.

PSEG is the 17th largest U.S. power producer, but ranks third among privately/investor-owned power producers in the U.S. with the lowest carbon emissions rates, according to the new report “Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States,” released by M.J. Bradley & Associates, Bank of America, CERES, Entergy, Exelon and NRDC.

PSEG, whose Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants produce more than 90% of New Jersey’s carbon-free electricity, also ranks among the top quartile nationwide for zero-carbon generation.

Chairman, President and CEO Ralph Izzo said: “Climate change represents a real threat to our society. PSEG has long recognized the need to change and adapt to mitigate the impacts of climate change while providing universal access to safe, reliable and increasingly cleaner and more efficient electricity. And as we look toward a lower carbon future, common sense—and economics—dictate that energy efficiency and innovative new business models will play increasing roles, areas in which PSEG is determined to participate and thrive.”

PSEG has a long history of addressing climate change as an embedded part of its business and culture.

• In 1993, PSEG became the first electric utility in the U.S. to volunteer to participate in the Climate Challenge Program; PSEG successfully met this goal and stabilized carbon dioxide emissions from its New Jersey plants to 1990 levels by 2000.

• In 2002, PSEG joined EPA’s Climate Leaders program to reduce the six greenhouse gases covered under the Kyoto Protocol. Under this program, PSEG committed to reduce its CO₂-equivalent GHG emissions on a pound-per-megawatt-hour basis by 18% from 2000 levels by Dec. 31, 2008. PSEG surpassed this goal by achieving a 31% reduction, due primarily to the fact that more than half our power comes from nuclear generation.

• In 2009, PSEG established a new goal of reducing company-wide GHG emissions by 25% from 2005 levels by 2025. PSEG met this goal 14 years ahead of schedule. PSEG achieved this goal through implementation of energy efficiency programs, deployment of renewable energy, increasing nuclear output and building clean, efficient natural gas generation.

• Since 2010, PSEG has invested approximately $400 million in energy efficiency initiatives that reduce emissions in hospitals, multifamily housing and buildings occupied by nonprofits and government agencies.

• In 2018, PSEG announced its new goal of eliminating 13 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent (MMTCO₂e) by 2030 from 2005 levels. Our new goal expands upon our previous reduction goals and includes activities that avoid GHG emissions. This goal includes action around efficiency upgrades of our existing combined-cycle natural gas fleet and the retirement of our New Jersey and Connecticut coal plants.

• PSEG has invested $1.7 Billion in 625 megawatts of solar, including 211 megawatts in New Jersey and 23 projects in 14 states totaling 414 megawatts. PSEG is New Jersey’s leading developer of solar energy resources and is an active supporter of efforts to develop offshore wind facilities.

• Supplying more than 90% of the state’s emissions-free power, PSEG’s Salem and Hope Creek nuclear generating plants play a key role in supporting New Jersey’s clean energy goals.