On the one hand, it is Christopher Crane, Chief Executive of the Chicago –based nuclear giant Exelon Nuclear Corporation, who is quoted, “What worries me is if we continue to build an excessive amount of wind and subsidize wind, the unintended consequence could be that it leads to shutting down (nuclear) plants.” And on the other, it is also Crane who told Exelon shareholders, "When the balance sheet is tight like it is right now, you would want to make investments that have a short investment period. Wind and other smaller assets really do fit that profile. Within a year, you're getting a return.”
In fact, Beyond Nuclear argues it is an intended consequence to invest in the “environmental balance” sheet for a 21st Century energy policy that phases out and replaces environment damaging conventional generators with an abundance of wind and solar power.
Precisely such winds of change are finally blowing in states like Maryland, where Governor O”Malley and the State Senate and House supporters of renewable energy have refused to be deterred, are set to approve a bill for concurrence to kick start development for offshore wind and a statewide supply line.