DOE Should Slow Its Move For Nuclear And Coal Supports

Costly market distortions won’t improve grid resiliency

Charles Hernick, October 19, 2017 (The Hill)

“Energy policy in the minds of American consumers is simple: People want the lights to come on when they hit the light switch, and no one wants to pay more than necessary. Overwhelmingly, most Americans want clean energy too — irrespective of party…That’s why [the Department of Energy (DOE) moving to fast in its push for a Federal Energy Regulatory proceeding] to address questions on the need for reform, eligibility, rates and implementation [of the grid’s wholesale power market. And] it is completely unwarranted since the Department’s own grid study concluded that there is not actually an imminent reliability emergency…Winter is coming — but a tight rulemaking timeline and a policy favoring just [coal and nuclear power] is not necessary…[Hasty implementation of the proposed Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule is] a solution in search of a problem…Moreover, the plan to save at-risk coal and nuclear plants is expensive, costing ratepayers between $1 billion and $4 billion annually through 2030…” click here for more

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