22May

The ACE Rule is Right on Target

The final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule is reportedly coming in June. It will replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP), bringing much-needed regulatory certainty and an approach to reducing emissions that, notably, doesn’t torpedo the economy. Any analysis of the ACE rule requires a comparison with the rule it’s replacing; or rather, the problems it’s […]

On May 22, 2019

15May

American Infrastructure Requires American Mining

Sound the trumpets, it’s infrastructure week again. While it remains anyone’s guess whether or not a bipartisan compromise can be brokered for a deal, the urgency for action on the nation’s crumbling infrastructure is greater than ever. The clock continues to tick. In 2017, the American Society for Civil Engineering released its most recent infrastructure […]

On May 15, 2019
coal, economy, infrastructure, met coal, mining, steel, supply chain

08May

Affordability and Reliability First

In a nation that holds polarizing views on nearly everything, it’s telling when a poll returns decisive, bipartisan consensus on an issue. That’s precisely the case in a new poll from Morning Consult which asked Americans how they believe the current transformation of the grid should be approached. Asked if they would like to transition […]

On May 8, 2019
California, electricity grid, Ernie Moniz, grid reliability, poll, renewable energy, University of Chicago

01May

Subsidizing Grid Unreliability

As the share of coal power on the Texas grid continues to decline and as greater reliance is placed on renewable sources of generation, Texans are crossing their fingers that they don’t face rolling outages this summer. There’s ample reason for concern. ERCOT, the state’s grid operator, is working with a razor-thin reserve margin of generating […]

On May 1, 2019
electricity grid, Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), grid reliability, renewables subsidies, Texas, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPFF), wind

24Apr

Mandating Higher Electricity Prices

The suspicion for some time has been that renewable portfolio standards are an incredibly costly and inefficient energy policy. Yet, they have grown in popularity and ambition with 29 states and the District of Columbia employing these mandates and policymakers from time to time flirting with a national standard. Suspicion has now been replaced by […]

On April 24, 2019
electricity grid, renewable energy, University of Chicago Energy Policy Institute

17Apr

Batteries: Great Promise, Even Greater Hype

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. From our smartphones, computers and tablets to electric vehicles, we are in the midst of a battery revolution. But for all the promise of batteries, there are limitations. There are physics problems that dictate how batteries can be used, or should be used, that need to inform our energy policy. Unfortunately, […]

On April 17, 2019
batteries, battery storage, electricity grid, Energy & Environmental Science, Ernest Moniz, renewable energy, solar, Tesla, wind

10Apr

When the Market is the Problem

“Allow the market to work” has been the catchphrase rebuttal to any suggestion that the accelerating loss of baseload, fuel-secure power plants threatens grid reliability. Renewable and natural gas advocates have sung it from the rooftops like a lost verse of “Baby Shark.” What their dismissal assumes – what their unshakeable faith in the market […]

On April 10, 2019
Duke Energy Corporation, electricity grid, energy security, Exelon Corporation, FirstEnergy Corporation, grid reliability, ISO New England, market system, PJM, Public Service Enterprise Group, Secretary Rick Perry

04Apr

A Clear Call for Action on Grid Reliability

Last Friday, Real Clear Politics hosted an event on the future of the U.S. electricity grid, or rather the challenge of maintaining grid reliability as the nation’s electricity mix undergoes dramatic change. The event, sponsored by NMA and America’s Power, brought together energy experts and officials on the frontline of the issue, including the Secretary […]

On April 4, 2019
all-of-the-above, America's Power, baseload power, coal, coal-fired power plants, Congressman David McKinley, Congressman Larry Bucshon, electricity grid, Governor Matt Bevin, polar vortex, Real Clear Politics, Secretary Rick Perry

27Mar

New Report Reaffirms Electricity Markets Aren’t Adequately Valuing Reliability

A new study being pushed by renewables advocates deserves note – but not for the reason its backers claim. It is noteworthy in that it is the perfect example of just how dysfunctional our electricity markets actually are and how uninformed the energy debate has become. The study, titled “The Coal Cost Crossover,” suggests that […]

On March 27, 2019
"The Coal Cost Crossover", baseload power, coal, coal-fired power plants, electricity grid, renewable energy

20Mar

A “Very Scary” Situation in Texas

Texas got a taste of cooler than expected weather this week and it sent shockwaves across the state’s electricity market. The Lone Star State learned a valuable lesson about putting too much faith in intermittent renewables. Temperatures dipped Monday morning, increasing heating demand, and that cooler weather was accompanied by calmer than expected winds. Calm […]

On March 20, 2019
baseload power, Ed Hirs, electricity grid, Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), renewable energy, Texas, wind

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