ComEd parent looks to reduce carbon footprint

Exelon Corp. Chief Executive Officer John Rowe said the largest operator of U.S. nuclear power plants will disclose a plan to reduce or offset its emissions of carbon dioxide, which is linked to global warming.

"Shortly, we are going to introduce a plan to reduce, displace or offset our entire carbon footprint," Rowe said today during a Sanford C. Bernstein conference in New York. "The plan we have is something that could only be done by a nuclear utility because our emissions are relatively low to start with."

Rowe said the company plans to help customers reduce their role in emissions through efficiency programs. Rowe also discussed a more efficient design for Exelon's headquarters. The Chicago-based company plans to bring on new production fueled by sources such as natural gas and nuclear power.

"We're considering a gas combined-cycle plant in Pennsylvania," Rowe said. "As you all know, we're looking at nuclear plants in Texas. And we believe that with these programs we can economically eliminate our carbon footprint."

The company is seeking "to be part of the solution as well as a beneficiary from the problem," Rowe said.

Exelon fell $1.59, or 1.8 percent, to $88.80 at 11:16 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.