Exelon plans huge cut in greenhouse emissions: NYT

(Reuters) - Power company Exelon Corp plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 by more than its total emissions in 2008 in an attempt to shape the debate on carbon dioxide rules and to get a jump on compliance, the New York Times said on Tuesday.

Exelon's plans, which rely heavily on conservation and existing nuclear plants produce more power, include smaller contributions from wind and solar energy as well, the paper said.

The largest nuclear power operator in the United States plans to make its operations more efficient, cut the energy use of its electricity customers and build low-carbon generators that would displace older and less-efficient plants, many operated by rivals, the newspaper said on its website.

One reason for the pledge is to seek credit for actions that cut emissions of other companies, the paper said, quoting Exelon's chief executive, John Rowe.

The company will help the factories that it serves do the same work with less electricity so that some generating stations, owned by Exelon or others, will burn less fuel.

Exelon also wants to build power plants that use natural gas more efficiently to replace coal plants in the Midwest and East that emit far more carbon dioxide.

Changes in the fuel markets have made Exelon's plans financially feasible, the paper said, adding the price of natural gas is now so high that efficient plants can be built profitably to replace older ones.

Exelon plans to cut customers' use of energy by improving efficiency and to increase the output of existing reactors. Each of these moves would contribute 23 percent to carbon reductions, the paper said.

The company expects some of the improvements to cut costs up to $70 a tonne of carbon dioxide saved after expenses. Some of the nuclear changes would earn $60 a tonne net of expenses, the paper said.

It also urged a cut in the release of sulfur hexafluoride, a gas that is used to insulate circuit breakers but which is 24,000 times more potent for global warming than carbon dioxide, molecule for molecule.

(Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan in Bangalore)