Cinergy, Environmental Defense Team To Reduce Greenhouse Gases

(10 September 2003 — Washington)  Cinergy Corporation, working in cooperation with Environmental Defense, today pledged to voluntarily take actions stabilizing its greenhouse gas emissions at 5% below 2000 levels in 2010 through 2012.

Cinergy is the first predominantly coal-burning electric utility in the US to announce publicly its intention to make absolute reductions of its greenhouse gas emissions.  To achieve this goal, the Cincinnati-based company is partnering with Environmental Defense, a national advocacy group, to develop a program to cut greenhouse gas emissions from Cinergy’s fossil fuel-powered electrical plants in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

“Cinergy’s action to control global warming is the type of corporate leadership that will help break the paralysis in Washington on this issue,” said Environmental Defense president Fred Krupp.  “Cinergy is showing that utilities can produce power and profits, while protecting the planet and achieving the emissions reductions required by the McCain/Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. 

To cut the greenhouse gas emissions, Cinergy will undertake a combination of internal actions and investments in emissions reduction projects.  Cinergy has committed to spend $21 million over the period 2004 through 2010 to help accomplish its goal.  Cinergy and Environmental Defense are working together to design the programs needed to achieve the pollution reductions.