October 27, 2004—A national environmental survey of electric generating companies conducted by PA Consulting Group (PA) shows that nearly 60 percent of the respondents believe that Congress will enact mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions within the next ten years. Roughly half the respondents believe mandatory limits will come within five years. Respondents represented companies that generate roughly 30 percent of US electricity. The survey also shows that:
- Survey respondents overwhelmingly believe that greenhouse gas build-up is a political problem
- Nearly half of all respondents see green house gas build-up as a scientific problem
- Less than half of responding companies are incorporating emission limits on CO2 into business planning, due to ongoing regulatory uncertainty.
According to Mike Beck, a Member of PA’s Management Group and an author of the survey, “Companies need to start focusing now on how CO2 emissions constraints will affect their businesses. The upcoming election adds to the uncertainty about future regulations since our respondents see dramatic policy differences resulting from whomever wins the White House.”
For more information, contact PA Consulting.
