Economics
Speed Dial: Tom Casten
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You've been recycling energy for 35 years. What's changed lately?
There's been some awakening by policy makers that energy we get from waste is as clean as wind or solar or geothermal. Through cogeneration [generating electricity and heat from a single fuel source] and capturing waste heat a factory already emits, we could cut CO emissions by about 20 percent and save about $100 billion a year.
What does the death of climate legislation mean for you?
In a perverse way, it may be good. A lot of people are saying, "What can we do that's clean and saves money?" When the debate is framed that way, all roads lead to more efficient generation of electricity. That's the one area that has not gained efficiency in 50 years.