Proposedenergyruleispayback to ailingcoalindustry for supportingTrump
Michael Collins, WASHINGTON,USA TODAY 2017
A proposal by the Trump administration to guarantee the nation has a sufficientsupply of power in extremeweather conditions or other emergencies isunderfirefrom clean energyadvocateswhoseeit as a blatantattempt to prop up the strugglingcoalindustry.
If the proposalisapproved, criticswarn, consumerscanexpect to payhigherelectricity bills for their homes and businesses, althoughexactly how much more is not yet certain.
“It’s a clumsy and anti-competitiveproposal to charge customers more for dirty power plants thattheyneitherwantnorneed,” said Mark Kresowik, deputyregionaldirector for the Sierra Club’sBeyond Coal Campaign.
The proposal, submitted by EnergySecretary Rick Perry late last month, calls for the FederalEnergyRegulatory Commission to adopt new regulations to ensurethatcoal and nuclear plants are fullycompensated for the “reliability and resiliency” theycontribute to the nation’s power grid.
Perry argues the new regulations are neededbecause the nation’selectricitygridisthreatened by the premature retirements of power plants thatcanwithstand major fuel supply disruptions caused by natural or manmadedisasters.
In a letter to energyregulators, Perry cites the Polar Vortex cold wavein 2014 and recent hurricanes thatdevastated parts of Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico as examples of why the nation’s fuel supply must beprotected.
Coal and nuclearenergy groups seePerry’s recognition of their value to the power grid as a welcome change from the administration of former President Barack Obama.
“We’vehadeightyears of the federalgovernment, throughregulation, trying to drive us out of business,” said Luke Popovich, a spokesman for the National Mining Association. “Wenow have an administration thatat least wants to reset this balance and try to lift us up.”
But clean energy groups seePerry’s move as payback to the ailingcoalindustry for its support of PresidentTrumpduring last year’selection.
By giving an advantage to coal and nuclear, they argue, the new regulationswouldinterferewithcompetition and couldreduce the reliance on cheaper, cleanerforms of energy, such as wind, solar and naturalgas.