December 17, 2024
Today, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) released its “2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment” examining potential risks to the reliability of the electric grid over the next ten years. NERC’s forecast found that roughly half of the country is at risk of electricity supply shortfalls. In response, America’s Power issued the following statement by Michelle Bloodworth, President and CEO:
“NERC’s new Long-Term Reliability Assessment adds to years of warnings from grid operators, public utility commissioners, FERC commissioners, and other officials that many parts of the country are facing the real possibility of electricity shortages, with some parts facing a risk of shortages as early as next year. NERC has issued eleven warnings over the past five years, and the risk has grown worse over time.”
“The increasing risk shown in the new assessment stems from the fact that electricity supply is not keeping up with the demand for electricity. One of the simplest ways to reduce this risk is to stop retiring coal plants and other dispatchable electricity sources. NERC’s recommendation that utilities reconsider retirements is a crucial acknowledgment of the need to preserve America’s coal plants to avoid future shortages.”
“Our analysis indicates that utilities have announced plans to retire almost 60,000 megawatts (MW) of coal by the end of 2029. These retirements are happening over the same period of time that electricity demand is projected to increase by 128,000 MW. Fortunately, utilities are already postponing the retirement of power plants in some regions of the country, but utilities in other regions need to follow this trend. With electricity demand exploding due to electrification, data centers, and industrial growth, something has to give, or we will damage our economy and leave Americans without electricity.”
“In addition, rewriting EPA regulations designed to shut down America’s coal plants would be another important step, and we are optimistic that the new administration and Congress will work to ensure a reliable and affordable electricity supply for our country.”
