Just as we have noted and reported, America’s quest for more energy is rapidly growing. And it’s growing so fast, the U.S. Energy Department, in a new report, is warning of growing prospects of brownouts and blackouts in the coming few years.
“This report affirms what we already know: The United States cannot afford to continue down the unstable and dangerous path of energy subtraction previous leaders pursued, forcing the closure of baseload power sources like coal and natural gas,” said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright after the Energy Department released its Report on Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security, which fulfills Section 3(b) of Executive Order 13990, Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid.
“In the coming years, America’s reindustrialization and the AI race will require a significantly larger supply of around-the-clock, reliable, and uninterrupted power,” continued Wright.
“President Trump’s administration is committed to advancing a strategy of energy addition, and supporting all forms of energy that are affordable, reliable, and secure. If we are going to keep the lights on, win the AI race, and keep electricity prices from skyrocketing, the United States must unleash American energy.”
The national trade organization, America’s power, a group whose mission is advocating at the federal and state levels on behalf of the U.S coal fleet and its supply chain responded.
“This report from the Department of Energy is further proof that the premature retirement of coal plants is putting the reliability of the U.S. electricity grid at risk,” said Michelle Bloodworth, president and CEO of the group.
“The Department of Energy’s report concludes that the aggressive regulatory agenda pursued under previous administrations would leave millions of American homes and businesses more vulnerable to blackouts because baseload power sources like coal are being replaced by less reliable sources like wind and solar. These renewables are not capable of meeting the constant 24/7 electricity demands required for AI, data centers, and other advanced technologies.”
She charged the aggressive retirement of coal plants by previous administration was happening “too quickly” and warned it will leave the country without dependable replacement power.
“This will damage the American economy, harm our national security, and undermine our ability to compete with nations like China. Fortunately, the Trump administration has been acting swiftly to reverse these dangerous policies that are forcing coal plants to retire prematurely. The Department of Energy’s report is a stark reminder of the urgency of these challenges, and we look forward to continuing to work with the administration in addressing them.”
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