27Jul

Coal Still Proving Necessary, Even in a High-Tech Age

Via The Morning Consult:  These are exciting times for energy production in the United States. Almost every week, we hear about new developments in renewable energy, electric vehicles and natural gas production. Much will hinge, though, on the storage capacity needed for wind and solar installations. And there’s also a question mark hanging over the […]
26Jul

Coal Plant Retirements Could Devastate Power Grid Resiliency

Via The Farmington Daily Times: There is growing alarm over the loss of America’s baseload sources of electricity. Coal and nuclear power plants are being pushed off the grid by a three-headed monster of heavily-subsidized renewable energy, the legacy effects of overzealous regulation, and a glut of natural gas. Since 2010, more than 600 coal-fired […]
25Jul

It Will Cost How Much to Do Nothing?

The unfolding crisis of baseload retirements has been well documented in this space. Despite gathering warnings from the engine room, the grid has managed to rearrange the proverbial deck chairs to make it at least appear that all is well even as our tanker takes on ever-increasing amounts of water. However, the loss of more […]
25Jul

Coal Retirements Could be Devastating for Grid Resiliency, Consumer Costs

Via The Piqua Daily Call:  There is growing alarm over the loss of America’s baseload sources of electricity. Coal and nuclear power plants are being pushed off the grid by a three-headed monster of heavily-subsidized renewable energy, the legacy effects of overzealous regulation, and a glut of natural gas. Since 2010, more than 600 coal-fired […]
18Jul

The EVs Are Coming

Those who claim there is no need for intervention to support baseload power plants often point to flat electricity demand as the basis of their reasoning. And to their point, utility electricity demand has been flat for a decade. Gains in energy efficiency and the outsourcing of heavy industry have contributed to this. But their […]
13Jul

Trump Administration Right to Support Coal and Nuclear Power

Via The Omaha World-Herald: As Secretary of Energy Rick Perry prepares to sign off on a plan to save financially distressed coal and nuclear plants, one of the recurring enigmas is why it’s taken so long to recognize the need for reliable base-load electricity production. Consider the importance of base-load power in Nebraska. We would […]
11Jul

One Retirement Too Many

Summer is here in all its sun-drenched glory. There’s a pretty good chance you’ve been swimming, seen some fireworks or had some watermelon. Perhaps it’s having both fireworks and watermelon on the mind, but reading about stress on the electric grid, falling reserve margins and blackouts in California jogged memories of the internet sensation that […]
09Jul

You Won’t Miss Coal, Nuclear Power — Until Your A/C Quits

Via The Belleville News-Democrat: Is the shutdown of “base-load” coal and nuclear plants harmful? These are the power plants capable of reliably providing electricity 24/7. By comparison, natural gas plants are susceptible to widely varying gas prices, and wind and solar are dependent upon weather conditions. Should something be done to prevent the further loss […]