Eideard

Exelon Corp, the largest nuclear power operator in the United States, is the latest U.S. power company to say it will leave the Chamber of Commerce over that group’s opposition to the climate bill.

“The Chamber and other groups think climate legislation will be bad for the economy,” an Exelon spokeswoman said. “We think it’s going to be good for the economy.”

Exelon’s top executive John Rowe said in a speech on Monday that the company would not renew its membership in the Chamber, which has pushed for public hearings to challenge the scientific evidence for man-made climate change.

Nuclear power is virtually emissions free, which means Exelon could face less emissions costs under climate regulation than a utility that generates electricity mostly from coal and natural gas.

Exelon followed California utility PG&E Corp and New Mexico based PNM Resources Inc in leaving the chamber over the dispute…

“Inaction on climate is not an option,” Rowe said in the speech. “If Congress does not act, the (Environmental Protection Agency) will, and the result will be more arbitrary, more expensive, and more uncertain for investors and the industry than a reasonable, market-based legislative solution.”

Way too rational an analysis for lobbyists and their Congressional flunkies.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of the world’s best example of money-grubbing guided by an outlook that peers ahead a good three to six months into the future. At best.