The Al Capone Strategy

Utility executives that had favored the failed cap & trade bill in Congress are moving on, reports the WSJ:

In a blueprint released last week, Exelon executives said their 13-state region could achieve reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions nearly equal to what federal legislation might have achieved in the next decade by pressing ahead with activities already encouraged by state and federal regulators.

This includes investment in nuclear power plant enhancements and a raft of energy efficient programs, such as “smart” meters and new transmission lines to ferry wind and solar power.

The money quote goes to one exec, who likens the roundabout CO2-reduction approach to the way a famous mobster was once taken down:

It’s like getting Al Capone for tax evasion. It’s not as satisfying as getting him for murder, but it still puts him away.

Clever, but it still happened by way of the federal government.