17Mar

The Existing Coal Fleet Is the Bridge We Need

With the energy transition underway, learning from the Texas grid crisis and building a path towards increased reliability is more urgent than ever. Additional variable power will be coming to grids across the country. At what pace and scale remains to be seen but ensuring reliability in the years ahead is shaping up to be […]

On March 17, 2021
grid reliability, ISO New England, Jim Robb, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), natural gas, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), PJM Interconnection, polar vortex, solar, Southwest Power Pool (SPP), Texas, Wall Street Journal, wind

13May

In 2018 NERC Warned of a Reliability Crisis from Accelerating Baseload Retirements. It’s Here.

In 2018, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the organization that oversees the reliability on the North American electric grid, warned of the threat of accelerating losses of baseload sources of power. At the time, S&P Global Market Intelligence characterized the report by writing, NERC “warns that an accelerated retirement of coal-fired and nuclear […]

On May 13, 2020
baseload power, capacity markets, Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), grid reliability, John Moura, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), plant retirements, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Steve Winberg, Utility Dive

10Jul

No Way in Hell

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) analyzes the reliability of our electricity supply. NERC’s reports and statements are consistently measured, typically packing all the flair and excitement of a buttoned-down white dress shirt. So, it’s with good reason that eyebrows were raised when NERC’s CEO, Jim Robb, recently told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission […]

On July 10, 2019
baseload power, batteries, battery storage, California, grid reliability, natural gas, New England, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), pipelines, Texas, Wood Mackenzie

26Jun

When Markets Undermine Reliability

Air conditioners are running at full throttle as summer descends in all its sticky, suffocating glory. As those ACs kick on, electricity demand is creeping up, potentially hitting record levels in some states. In Texas, as temperatures climb towards triple digits, customers are wondering if the AC – and a reliable flow of power – […]

On June 26, 2019
baseload power, Dallas Morning News, electricity grid, Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Texas, wind

14Feb

Evaluating Grid Reliability Requires Examining What’s to Come, Not What’s Been

It was the study energy wonks were sure was going to be a deal maker or breaker in the ongoing debate about fuel-secure sources of generation and the reliability and resilience of the grid. It turns out, the study is neither of those things. E&E News obtained the unpublished draft study, and, if anything, it […]

On February 14, 2019
baseload power, coal-fired power plants, electricity grid, grid diversity, IHS Markit, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)