{"id":2566027,"date":"2026-02-06T13:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/energy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T13:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:57:05","slug":"energy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/energy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Secretary Chris Wright pushes back on utilities&#8217; call for more wind and solar"},"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\">28<\/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%2Fenergy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar%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=2566027&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--><p>Energy Secretary Chris Wright challenged calls from utility groups and some lawmakers to expand wind and solar, arguing that the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >grid requires reliable base-load power<\/a> and sufficient total capacity rather than simply adding electrons. He said renewables cannot meaningfully increase overall grid capacity and warned that relying on them could raise costs, insisting the focus should be on preventing blackouts and meeting peak demand.<\/p>\n<p>The remarks occurred amid broader support from utilities,tech firms,manufacturers,and both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for an all-of-the-above energy strategy to meet growing demand and address electricity prices. Wright highlighted the administration\u2019s actions during the winter storm Fern, including keeping five coal plants online to avoid shortages, a move criticized by some utilities. He stressed that, in his view, coal plants serve as a security generator and help keep prices down, while wind and solar are insufficient for sustained, reliable power.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Energy Secretary Chris Wright pushes back on utilities&rsquo; call for more wind and solar<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2496243\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Utility companies looking to add every possible electron <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/millions-without-power-in-texas-energy-prices-climb\/\" title=\"Millions Without ... In Texas; Energy ... Climb\">electric grid<\/a> will not<\/span> have the full backing of the&nbsp;Trump administration, as Energy Secretary&nbsp;Chris Wright&nbsp;said the United States needs reliable energy, not wind and solar power.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4447797\/utility-trade-group-warns-higher-costs-stalling-wind-farms\/\">Utility trade groups<\/a>, large tech firms, and major manufacturers, as well as Republican and Democratic lawmakers, have called for the Trump administration to adopt an &ldquo;all-of-the-above&rdquo; energy strategy, which would include renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, to meet the growing demand brought on by artificial intelligence and address soaring <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/electricity\/\">electricity<\/a> prices.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4447797\/utility-trade-group-warns-higher-costs-stalling-wind-farms\/\">Utility trade group head warns of higher costs from stalling wind farms<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4446031\/house-passes-bill-fast-track-domestic-mining-critical-minerals\/\">House passes bill to fast-track domestic mining of critical minerals<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4445577\/us-seeks-trading-bloc-counter-china-grip-critical-minerals-jd-vance\/\">US seeks trading bloc to counter China grip on critical minerals, Vance says<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Wright pushed back on industry and Capitol Hill messaging on Friday during a press conference at the Energy Department&rsquo;s headquarters, saying the focus should instead be on ensuring the electricity grid is designed for peak demand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When I hear politicians say, &lsquo;We just added more electrons on the grid,&rsquo; no, we don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; Wright said.<\/p>\n<p>Wright lambasted wind and solar power, which can be added to the grid relatively quickly, saying the renewable alternatives fail to add anything meaningful to the total capacity of the electricity grid.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Giving me extra electricity when I don&rsquo;t need it &mdash; it&rsquo;s just an extra cost,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>His remarks came just one day after Drew Maloney, CEO and president of the utility and investor-owned electric company trade group Edison Electric Institute, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4447797\/utility-trade-group-warns-higher-costs-stalling-wind-farms\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the industry needs all electrons, regardless of resources.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You look at a state like Iowa &hellip; a large percentage of their power comes from wind. Texas has a good mix of wind and solar,&rdquo; Maloney said. &ldquo;But you need it all. And you see, like during a storm like this, you know, where we became very reliant on fossil fuel as sort of base load, you need that too. And we need more nuclear&hellip;we need as many electrons on the grid as possible right now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>During Friday&rsquo;s press conference, Wright touted the administration&rsquo;s efforts to prevent blackouts and major disruptions as a result of the sweeping winter storm Fern, which hit dozens of states in late January.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the storm, the Energy Department took actions to keep five coal plants scheduled for closure online to meet demand. Three of these plants were within the affected storm region.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to keep the facilities online has been met with pushback, including from two utilities operating one of the plants.<\/p>\n<p>The facility, the Craig Generating Station&rsquo;s Unit 1 in Colorado, is jointly run by cooperative utilities Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and Platte River Power Authority.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the utilities filed a petition with the Energy Department to reconsider its emergency order demanding the unit remain operational through the end of March, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/liberal-chicago-mayors-move-to-the-right-on-crisis-issue-sets-off-fight-with-allies\/\" title=\"Chicago&#039;s liberal mayor sparks conflict with allies by shifting towards the right on a critical issue\">citing high costs<\/a> that could be borne by customers. <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Analysts have&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/earthjustice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/grid-strategies_craig-unit-1-report.pdf\">estimated<\/a>&nbsp;that keeping<\/span> the unit open for 90 additional days will cost the utilities at least $20 million, with costs ballooning to as much as $150 million if its life is extended one year.<\/p>\n<p>When pressed on what plan the department has to prevent consumers from being hit with additional costs, Wright told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that &ldquo;far larger costs come from blackouts.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4447797\/utility-trade-group-warns-higher-costs-stalling-wind-farms\/\"><strong>UTILITY TRADE GROUP HEAD WARNS OF HIGHER COSTS FROM STALLING WIND FARMS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The pushback is nonsense,&rdquo; he said, referring to the utilities&rsquo; petition.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Keeping coal plants on allows you to meet peak demand and allows you to keep price rises down. They&rsquo;re not a cost setter, they&rsquo;re a security generator and they&rsquo;re a cost downward driver,&rdquo; Wright said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Energy Secretary Chris Wright pushed back against utilities pushing to add wind and solar power to every available electron. He argued the country needs a dependable grid, not a rush to renewables that doesn\u2019t actually boost total capacity and can raise costs when extra power isn\u2019t needed. While many utility groups, tech firms, manufacturers, and lawmakers call for an all\u2011of\u2011the\u2011above approach to meet AI\u2011driven demand and higher electricity prices, Wright said the focus should be on designing the grid for peak demand. He warned that simply \u201cadding more electrons\u201d isn\u2019t the goal and that wind and solar don\u2019t meaningfully raise total capacity; extra power for no need is an unnecessary cost.<\/p>\n<p>The comments followed Edison Electric Institute head Drew Maloney\u2019s call for all electrons from all resources, including coal and nuclear, to meet demand and maintain reliability. Wright also highlighted the administration\u2019s steps to prevent blackouts after the winter storm Fern, noting the Department of Energy kept five coal plants online ahead of the storm\u2014three of which were in the storm area. Those actions drew objections from some utilities, including those operating Craig Generating Station Unit 1 in Colorado, which is run by Tri-State and Platte River.<\/p>\n<p>Utilities argued for reconsidering the order to keep the unit running through March due to high customer costs. Analysts estimate keeping the unit open 90 more days would cost at least $20 million, potentially rising to $150 million if extended a year. When asked how to shield consumers from higher costs, Wright said that avoiding blackouts would avert far larger expenses. He dismissed the pushback as baseless, arguing that keeping coal online helps meet peak demand and suppress price increases, serving as a security generator and a driver of lower costs overall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3452,"featured_media":2566028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/12725_WEX_CHRIS_WRIGHT-14.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4486,4326,21109,4678,6784],"class_list":["post-2566027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-energy","tag-policy","tag-renewables","tag-solar","tag-wind"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/12725_WEX_CHRIS_WRIGHT-14.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566027","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\/3452"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2566027"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2566036,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566027\/revisions\/2566036"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2566028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2566027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2566027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2566027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}