{"id":2566042,"date":"2026-02-06T14:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T19:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/energy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar-2\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T14:14:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T19:14:02","slug":"energy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar-2","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-2\/","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-2%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=2566042&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 the utility sector\u2019s push too expand wind and solar, arguing that a reliable electricity grid capable of meeting peak demand is more significant than rapidly adding intermittent renewables. He claimed wind and solar do not meaningfully increase total capacity and that extra electricity when it isn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >needed simply raises costs<\/a>. his remarks, delivered at the Energy Department, come amid broader calls from utility trade groups, major manufacturers, tech firms, and some lawmakers for an all-of-the-above energy strategy to address rising electricity prices and growing demand driven by AI.<\/p>\n<p>Wright highlighted the administration\u2019s efforts to prevent blackouts during the late January winter storm Fern, including keeping five coal plants online\u2014three within the affected region. Utilities pushing back on this order cited high costs, with estimates ranging from about $20 million to $150 million for extended operation. Wright argued that avoiding outages would incur far larger costs and defended coal plants as security generators that help keep prices down. The piece also reflects a tension between industry voices that say \u201cyou need it all\u201d (including nuclear) and the administration\u2019s stance that the grid must be designed to meet peak demand with a diverse mix of sources.  <\/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 Power 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/energy-secretary-chris-wright-pushes-back-on-utilities-call-for-more-wind-and-solar\/\" title=\"... on ...&#039; call for more ... and ...\">include renewable energy sources<\/a> 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>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nEnergy Secretary Chris Wright rejected calls from utilities and several lawmakers for an all-renewables approach, arguing the grid should prioritize reliability and peak-demand readiness. He said simply adding more electrons via wind and solar doesn\u2019t meaningfully increase total capacity and can raise costs when surplus power isn\u2019t needed. Wright noted that, during the recent winter storm, the administration kept several coal plants online to prevent outages, a move some utilities say could raise customer bills. Industry groups contend that all available energy sources\u2014wind, solar, nuclear, and fossil fuels\u2014are needed to keep the grid resilient. He framed coal plants as security generators and a way to keep prices down, rather than as a costly burden<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3452,"featured_media":2566043,"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":[546,33651,538],"tags":[73128,73129,73131,4658,73130],"class_list":["post-2566042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-energy-policy-2","tag-renewable-energy-2","tag-solar-energy-2","tag-utilities","tag-wind-energy-2"],"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\/2566042","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=2566042"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2566051,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566042\/revisions\/2566051"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2566043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2566042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2566042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2566042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}