{"id":2089232,"date":"2023-11-03T15:32:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T19:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/power-grid-reliability-jeopardized-as-coal-plants-close-faster-than-replacement-renewables-open\/"},"modified":"2023-11-03T15:36:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T19:36:52","slug":"power-grid-reliability-jeopardized-as-coal-plants-close-faster-than-replacement-renewables-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/power-grid-reliability-jeopardized-as-coal-plants-close-faster-than-replacement-renewables-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Power grid reliability at risk as coal plants shut down faster than new renewables emerge."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpower-grid-reliability-jeopardized-as-coal-plants-close-faster-than-replacement-renewables-open%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2089232&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>As the United States races to reduce carbon emissions,\u2062 energy executives \u2063are growing increasingly concerned about the reliability of the power grid. This worry was echoed multiple times during a joint hearing of Pennsylvania and \u200bOhio\u2062 state lawmakers in Pittsburgh, where they\u200c discussed the PJM electric grid.<\/p>\n<p>PJM is responsible for coordinating\u2063 the movement\u2062 of wholesale electricity in 13 states and the District of Columbia, ensuring that \u2063power is always\u200d available \u200bwhen needed. It \u2063is one of seven regional transmission\u2063 organizations in the US, with\u200b two others operating in Canada.<\/p>\n<p>PJM serves over 65 million people across nearly 369,000 square miles.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/6-states-to-benefit-from-1-3-billion-in-projects-to-boost-power-grid-5519736?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">6 States to Benefit From $1.3 Billion in Projects to Boost Power Grid<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/30\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/6-states-to-benefit-from-1-3-billion-in-projects-to-boost-power-grid-5519736?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n<picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" https:><\/source>\n<\/picture>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/around-one-million-coals-jobs-will-be-lost-globally-by-2050-energy-report-5509281?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">Close to a Million Coals Jobs\u2062 Will Be Lost Globally By 2050: Energy Report<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/12\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/around-one-million-coals-jobs-will-be-lost-globally-by-2050-energy-report-5509281?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n<picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" https:><\/source>\n<\/picture>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$-->\n<\/div>\n<p>In recent years, there has been a rapid retirement of coal, \u200doil, gas, and nuclear power generators due to government \u200cand \u200dprivate sector policies, as well as economic factors, according \u2063to a report by \u2064PJM.<\/p>\n<p>Several power plants, including the\u2064 Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station\u2064 and the Homer \u2064City Generating Station, have already \u2062shut down, while\u2064 others like the Conemaugh Generating Station, \u2063Keystone Generating \u200bStation, and \u200dBrandon Shores\u2063 power plant are scheduled for closure in\u2064 the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>Steve DeFrank, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, testified that\u200d these retirements have resulted in a significant loss of capacity, \u2062with 2,000 megawatts from \u2064the Homer City Generating Station, 3,400 megawatts\u200b from Conemaugh\u200d and Keystone,\u2064 and another 1,300 megawatts \u200dfrom Brandon \u2063Shores.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$-->\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">PJM is facing major \u200cchallenges due to these retirements. <\/p>\n<h2>More\u2064 Renewables and More \u200dDemand<\/h2>\n<p> \u200d As retired generation is replaced, new generation projects are going through the permitting process. However,\u2063 almost all new requests \u200cto connect to the\u200c PJM grid are coming\u2062 from \u2063renewable\u200c resources and batteries, with\u2063 solar accounting for 43%, wind for 16%, storage resources for 23%, and hybrids of\u200d batteries co-located with renewables, \u2063primarily solar, for 16%, according to PJM.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This transition to more renewables is happening at a time when the demand for electricity \u2063is expected \u200cto \u200dskyrocket. President Joe Biden has set ambitious goals for electric vehicle \u2062adoption, aiming for 60% of new car \u200dsales to be electric by 2030 and 67% by 2032. These\u200c regulations also promote the\u200c use of electric stoves and electric heat, creating the perception of \u2064immediate environmental benefits. \u200cHowever, it&#8217;s\u2062 important \u2064to note that electricity \u200ccomes from a \u200dmix of power sources.<\/p>\n<p>Asim \u2063Haque, senior vice president for state and member services for\u200d PJM, testified about the concern of a supply crunch in the coming years. He highlighted the\u200d increased demand, decreased supply, and the slow pace of new \u2064generation projects as fundamental supply and demand issues.<\/p>\n<p>Electricity in PJM&#8217;s \u200bgrid is generated by various sources such as coal, oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar \u200dcompanies. \u200cThese\u2064 companies sell power through three PJM markets: the &#8220;day ahead&#8221; market, the &#8220;real time&#8221;\u2064 market, and the &#8220;capacity&#8221; market.\u200b The capacity market ensures \u200cpower availability three years in advance, while the\u200d real-time market responds to current\u200c conditions. When solar and wind are not available, coal, gas, and \u200bnuclear \u2062power are relied upon to meet the demand.<\/p>\n<p>As the transition\u2062 to more renewables like\u200d solar and\u200c wind continues, the risk to grid reliability evolves, according to Mr. Haque.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">&#8220;While solar \u200cresources perform well in the summer, their performance may not be \u2063as strong in the winter. How should the market\u2064 adapt to\u200d account for this engineering fact?&#8221; Mr. Haque questioned. <\/p>\n<h2>Winter Weather\u200c Demand<\/h2>\n<p> \u2062During the winter storm Elliot in December 2022, a sudden temperature drop and\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/power-grid-reliability-jeopardized-as-coal-plants-close-faster-than-replacement-renewables-open\/\" title=\"Power grid reliability at risk as coal plants shut down faster than new renewables emerge.\">strong winds caused widespread generator failures<\/a>\u2063 and frozen natural gas supplies\u2064 in Pennsylvania. This led to power \u2064outages for \u2064neighboring utilities connected to PJM&#8217;s grid.<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:250px\" class=\"alignleft\"><figcaption>  PJM fuel mix during winter storm Elliott in\u2063 December 2022. (Courtesy of Rachel Gleason)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;PJM \u2062operators had to implement multiple emergency procedures and appeal to\u2062 the public to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-texas-faces-heat-wave-power-companies-are-automatically-raising-the-temperatures-on-smart-thermostats\/\" title=\"As Texas Faces Heat Wave, Power Companies Are Automatically Raising The Temperatures On Smart Thermostats\">reduce energy consumption<\/a> in order to\u2064 maintain grid reliability,&#8221; said Mr. DeFrank. &#8220;All generator types, except for nuclear resources, were significantly affected\u200b by\u2063 the winter storm.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">However, as long as PJM can \u2063meet the real-time demand, the lights will stay on and the power will keep flowing. PJM constantly adjusts the real-time power mix to \u200cprevent the risk of blackouts. Currently, fossil\u200b fuels make up the majority of\u2062 the real-time power blend. A pie chart\u200d on the PJM <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pjm.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> displays the current\u2062 mix of resources providing power.<\/div>\n<p>The challenges to grid reliability become more pronounced when\u200d retired generation is not\u200c adequately replaced by new generation projects.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not\u2064 just about replacing\u200b retired generation one-to-one with new generation, but also considering the intermittent nature of\u2064 renewable energy sources,&#8221; testified Diane Holder, vice \u200bpresident of entity engagement and corporate services\u2064 for \u200cReliability First, a company that identifies risks and solutions for electric reliability issues.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier\u2062 testimony indicated that to \u200cmaintain reliability, about three \u2064times as many renewable megawatts are \u2063needed\u200d to replace retiring fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Policies that\u200b ensure a diverse portfolio of generation types \u200cthroughout the transition, as well as policies\u200d that allow for environmental waivers when necessary to maintain reliability, will greatly contribute \u2062to a reliable transition,&#8221; Ms. Holder emphasized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How did\u2064 the\u2063 recent power outages across several states during extreme weather\u200b conditions highlight the \u2063vulnerability of the power grid?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  S, leading to power outages across several states. This \u2063event highlighted the vulnerability of the power \u2062grid during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boil-water-notice-goes-out-in-texas-capital-amidst-severe-winter-weather\/\" title=\"Boil Water Notice Goes Out In Texas Capital Amidst Severe Winter Weather\">extreme weather conditions<\/a> and raised concerns\u200b about the ability of renewable energy sources to meet the increased demand in such \u2064situations.<\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-stories\">\n<p><!--$--><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"intro-header\">Related \u200cStories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"my-4\">$500 Million Texas\u200c Energy\u2064 Market Bailout Passes Senate, Goes\u200b to Governor&#8217;s \u2064Desk<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-2\">\n<ul>\n<li>California Grid Operator Declares Stage 3 \u2062Emergency, Begins Rolling \u200bPower Outages<\/li>\n<li>PG&#038;E Cuts Power to About<br \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the US races to cut carbon emissions, energy executives fear the power grid&#8217;s reliability is at risk. This worry was echoed multiple times during a joint hearing in Pittsburgh, where Pennsylvania and Ohio lawmakers discussed the PJM electric grid. PJM manages wholesale electricity movement in all or some areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2089233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2089232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2089232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2089233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2089232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2089232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2089232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}