First Gen Corp. chairman and chief executive Federico Lopez asked the government to veer away from more coal plants to avoid “white elephant” projects, as climate change will likely force the development of more renewable energy projects.
“So whether it’s from the standpoint of our country having affordable and reliable power, CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions, community health, ambient environment pollution, and fast-ramping grid flexibility, no matter how we slice and dice it, new coal-fired plants are not necessary to fire up the potential of a growing and dynamic economy such as ours,” Lopez said at the inauguration of the 414 -megawatt San Gabriel and 97 MW Avion power plants which run on natural gas.
“If we can get more power industry players and policy makers to shift course and embrace the change that’s coming, it will be wiser for the country and for them,” Lopez said.
Lopez said that it would be critical for the country to look ahead and anticipate the trajectory of technology and other forces ultimately steering us toward a “decarbonized world.”