IF COAL CREATES SO MANY EMISSIONS, WHY DOES CINERGY CONTINUE TO USE IT TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY?

Coal is the most abundant and affordable energy fuel in North America. More than 50 percent of the electricity generated in the United States, and 40 percent in the world, comes from coal. While energy conservation, demand management and cleaner methods of generating electricity may reduce our reliance on coal over time, coal will continue to play a significant role, even in a carbon-constrained world.

Despite the renewed focus on nuclear power, the costs of constructing new nuclear-fueled power plants remain high and the questions of waste disposal go unanswered. Natural gas supplies are constrained and are being depleted. Renewable energy, while promising, can only serve a small portion of our nation’s increasing demand for energy with currently available technology. All of these technologies will be needed to meet our ever-growing appetite for energy. However, coal is, and will continue to be, our primary source of fuel in the United States and in the world.

Addressing global warming now is consistent with our efforts to be a sustainability leader. Our goal is to be a company that you want to invest in over the long term; a company you want to do business with and to work for; and a company known for leadership in its communities and in the energy industry. In 2004, Cinergy was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the second consecutive year. We believe this is further evidence of our commitment to balancing competing interests to find common ground.