Entergy CEO: Climate Change Top Issue For Industry

Capturing carbon dioxide produced by coal-fired plants and storing it underground can be done in an affordable manner, Leonard said. Improved technology would make the process more efficient, he said.

Leonard said he understands his view won't be universally accepted, but he stressed that environmental solutions have to be affordable.

Leonard said President Barack Obama's proposed budget is sound in its energy policy goals, but he expressed concern about bills being considered in Congress that would expand wind energy production in a way that he says is unworkable.

A logistical problem with wind energy is that the areas of the U.S. with the greatest winds lie mainly in the West, in dead spots in the electric grid. It will cost billions of dollars to build the infrastructure to get that electricity into the grid, he said.

"We're not against renewables," Leonard said, but he does oppose government mandates to use technology that requires a heavy government subsidy that can't be sustained.

Entergy serves 2.7 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and southeast Texas.