“There has been a strong push for quite some time to get coal power out of Maryland. In this accelerated timeline of exiting from coal-fired power plants in the coming 12 to 24 months, I think it’s going to create a major reliability concern for the state. The loss of power poses a real danger to the well-being and livelihoods of Maryland families and businesses. Until these current risks to our grid are fully dealt with, it’s a mistake to close reliable, baseload power plants too soon. That should be a concern to consumers in Maryland and businesses in Maryland that rely on dependable power.”
What Others Are Saying
Below is a collection of quotes from industry experts, policymakers, officials, and others on various electrical grid issues. Use the filters below to find perspectives on topics like coal retirements, reliability, regulations and more.
Quote Filter
- Christopher Summers
- President
- Maryland Public Policy Institute
- Fox Interview
- 12/07/2023
“When it comes to concerns with the rules, one of the things that I would put forward is that timeline is one of the most important aspects when it comes to the infrastructure and technology available to it. When you look at where SRP is located out in Arizona, I would refer you to the SunZia transmission line. This transmission line between New Mexico and Arizona has taken more than 16 years to get permitted. And I think I would use that as an example of where you have adequate investment, you have interest and desire by energy entities are really just out in the west we have a significant amount of federal land and that adds to the permitting requirements, the siting requirements to actually get infrastructure built. So, while we understand and appreciate the mission that EPA is trying to accomplish, we think it needs to be met with the practicality of trying to turn plans no matter how ambition in into reality and infrastructure.”
- Bobby Olsen
- Associate General Manager
- SRP
- FERC 2023 Reliability Technical Conference
- 11/09/2023
“When we start a new transmission line today, it’s a 10-year process because nobody wants transmission. So, if it’s brand new and doesn’t have the right aways, we’re going to have to do condemnations, which is going to be tied up in court from cradle to grave. It’s a 10-year process at least so I think to say that it’s going to save the day is a fallacy right now that’s going to take more time. I get that we’re going to get there some time, but not in the short term.”
- Tony Campbell
- President and CEO
- East Kentucky Power Cooperative
- FERC 2023 Reliability Technical Conference
- 11/09/2023
“When I read some of the EPA documents when they were releasing the rule, one thing really struck me was a quote. They said the power sector has a broad set of tools to deploy clean, affordable energy, take advantage of ready to go advance pollution technology, create and retain good paying jobs and reduce energy costs for families and businesses. Now you can debate many of the things in that quote, but to suggest that this rule or the energy transition as a whole is going to reduce costs, energy costs for Americans? That’s just irresponsible. That is not what we’re looking at. And we can’t keep promising that to people.”
- Julie Fedorchak
- Commissioner
- North Dakota Public Service Commission
- FERC 2023 Reliability Technical Conference
- 11/09/2023
“As we sit here today, we cannot run a system on 100% renewables.”
- Asim Haque
- Senior Vice President
- PJM
- CNHINews: Reliability of power grid in Pa. threatened as energy sources dwindle: industry experts
- 11/02/2023
“If you’re going to do a transition to a different set of generation, it’s going to take time to make that happen,” Matheson said. “What’s bad policy is forcing closure of reliable assets that therefore compromise electric reliability of the grid.”
- Jim Matheson
- CEO
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
- Politico Grid Reliability Event
- 10/26/2023
“Commissioner Christie said the red lights are flashing, problems are coming. The problem generally is not the addition of intermittent resources primarily wind and solar but the far too rapid subtraction of dispatchable resources especially coal and gas.”
- Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
- Ranking Member
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- 05/04/2023
[On whether we are getting enough gas units build] “Looking at the PJMQ which is the line of units that want to get in and interconnected, about 90% of it is Wind, Solar or Batteries. I think only 4% is gas. The problem is that we are not getting enough new gas generation to provide backup to the increased deployment of wind and solar. The answer is no, we are not getting enough new. The bigger problem is the gas units we have increasingly can’t get the fuel supply to run as either baseload units that run all the time or as peaker units that have to be called in. It really is a matter of supply. If they can’t get the fuel supply then they can’t provide the power supply.”
- Mark Christie
- Commissioner
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- House Energy and Commerce Committee, Energy Subcommittee
- 06/13/2023
“It makes no sense at all to take tools out of the toolbox. No energy resource is immune to weather disruptions whether that be frozen wind turbines, frozen gas wells, or frozen coal stockpiles, all of which we saw in recent winters.” […] “There is no doubt that our electric grid is undergoing a rapid transition both in generation sources and in the types of demand the grid is called on to serve. The speed of this transition must be balanced against reliability and affordability of electricity.”
- Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)
- Chairman
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- FERC Oversight Hearing
- 05/04/2023