{"id":256566,"date":"2023-05-08T14:04:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T12:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=256566"},"modified":"2023-05-08T14:05:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T12:05:33","slug":"ferc-commissioners-tell-senators-of-major-grid-reliability-challenges-with-some-blaming-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=256566","title":{"rendered":"FERC commissioners tell senators of major grid reliability challenges, with some blaming markets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" data-attachment-id=\"256570\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=256570\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,675\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?fit=723%2C407&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-256570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Federal Energy Regulatory Commission commissioners speak at a May 4, 2023, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.\u00a0<em>Retrieved from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.senate.gov\/hearings\/2023\/5\/full-committee-hearing-to-conduct-oversight-of-ferc\">\u00a0Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From <a href=\"http:\/\/Watts Up With That?\">Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.utilitydive.com\/news\/ferc-grid-reliability-senate-energy-hearing\/649523\/\">This article from UTILITY DIVE covers testimony by commissioners at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee hearing.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. grid faces major reliability challenges, according to members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who used the word 34 times in their prepared testimony Thursday at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a \u201clooming reliability crisis in our electricity markets,\u201d FERC Commissioner James Danly said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe United States is heading for a very catastrophic situation in terms of reliability,\u201d FERC Commissioner Mark Christie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FERC Acting Chairman Willie Phillips said, \u201cWe face unprecedented challenges to the reliability of our nation\u2019s electric system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing reliability and resilience challenges from extreme weather and cyber and physical security threats require changes to the U.S. grid, according to FERC Commissioner Allison Clements.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.utilitydive.com\/news\/ferc-grid-reliability-senate-energy-hearing\/649523\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.utilitydive.com\/news\/ferc-grid-reliability-senate-energy-hearing\/649523\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">and<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christie said the main problem is that power plants are being retired at a faster pace than they\u2019re being replaced, pointing to estimates from the PJM Interconnection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About 40 GW, or 21% of PJM\u2019s installed capacity, is at risk of retiring by 2030, the largest U.S. grid operator said in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.utilitydive.com\/news\/pjm-capacity-market-reform-reserve-margin\/643598\/\">a Feb. 24 report<\/a>. PJM expects only 15.1 GW to 30.6 GW of accredited capacity to come online by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe arithmetic doesn\u2019t work,\u201d Christie said. \u201cThis problem is coming. It\u2019s coming quickly. The red lights are flashing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Increasing transmission capability was discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, new transmission could help ease reliability problems, according to Phillips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTransmission plays a critical role in facilitating the interconnection of new resources, while ensuring that the electric system remains reliable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phillips said he hopes FERC can issue an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.utilitydive.com\/news\/ferc-interregional-transfer-capacity-reliability-transmission\/638066\/\">interregional transmission planning reform<\/a>&nbsp;proposal in the \u201cvery near term.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The points made during the commisioners\u2019 testimony was disputed by Environmental Organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Danly\u2019s criticism of subsidies for renewable energy was off base, according to Devin Hartman, director of Energy and Environmental Policy at the R Street Institute, a free market-oriented public policy research group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCapacity markets secure sufficient levels of capacity irrespective of subsidy levels, but they cannot procure resources that governments prevent from being built or retained,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, utility integrated resource planning in RTOs can cause reliability problems, according to Hartman.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.utilitydive.com\/news\/ferc-grid-reliability-senate-energy-hearing\/649523\/\">Read the full article here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. grid faces major reliability challenges, according to members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who used the word 34 times in their prepared testimony Thursday at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":256570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691819408,691819409,691819407],"class_list":["post-256566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-energy-and-natural-resources-committee","tag-ferc","tag-transmission","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0Screenshot_2023-05-04_2.29.36_PM.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-14Ka","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":262071,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=262071","url_meta":{"origin":256566,"position":0},"title":"Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Mark Christie: Power grid is facing \u2018dire consequences\u2019 due to coal &amp; gas retirements","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/14\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Testifying before the US House, FERC Commissioner Mark Christie says America\u2019s power grid is facing \u2018very dire consequences\u2019 due to the ongoing retirement of coal and natural gas power plants.","rel":"","context":"In \"FERC\"","block_context":{"text":"FERC","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ferc"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-457.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-457.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-457.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-457.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-457.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":264096,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=264096","url_meta":{"origin":256566,"position":1},"title":"Planned For Failure: Shutdown Coal-Fired Power Plants &amp; Get Ready For\u00a0Blackouts","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/27\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Power grids are finally balanced affairs that were never designed for the haphazard occasional delivery of wind and solar. Maintaining voltage and frequency within critical defined tolerances is a cinch with conventional generators, like nuclear, gas and coal-fired plants, which deliver the goods, around-the-clock and irrespective of the weather.","rel":"","context":"In \"Blackouts\"","block_context":{"text":"Blackouts","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=blackouts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-47.jpeg?fit=1200%2C941&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-47.jpeg?fit=1200%2C941&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-47.jpeg?fit=1200%2C941&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-47.jpeg?fit=1200%2C941&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0-Blackout-47.jpeg?fit=1200%2C941&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":282186,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=282186","url_meta":{"origin":256566,"position":2},"title":"Government over U.S. Oil and Gas: A Summary","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"From \u00a0Master Resource By Robert Bradley Jr. The Library of Congress\u2019s\u00a0Oil and Gas Industry: A Research Guide\u00a0lists Federal agencies pertaining to oil and gas in addition to the U.S. Department of Energy, which back in 1977 consolidated dozens of energy functions spread throughout Washington, DC. Major state regulatory agencies U.S.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Energy Leviathan\"","block_context":{"text":"Energy Leviathan","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=energy-leviathan"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0oil-shutterstock_418611529-copy-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0oil-shutterstock_418611529-copy-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0oil-shutterstock_418611529-copy-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0oil-shutterstock_418611529-copy-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0oil-shutterstock_418611529-copy-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":368715,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=368715","url_meta":{"origin":256566,"position":3},"title":"FERC Report Card","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/05\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The new chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission used the Trump Administration\u2019s order to have agency employees report their activities as a chance to show off. Late last week he issued a four-page\u00a0letter of accomplishments\u00a0on behalf of his staff, a list that might be a good month, not a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)\"","block_context":{"text":"Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=department-of-government-efficiency-doge"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission_FERC_Enacts_New_Rules_to_Revitalize_Power_Grid_Amid_Soaring_Demand.jpg?fit=1170%2C549&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission_FERC_Enacts_New_Rules_to_Revitalize_Power_Grid_Amid_Soaring_Demand.jpg?fit=1170%2C549&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission_FERC_Enacts_New_Rules_to_Revitalize_Power_Grid_Amid_Soaring_Demand.jpg?fit=1170%2C549&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission_FERC_Enacts_New_Rules_to_Revitalize_Power_Grid_Amid_Soaring_Demand.jpg?fit=1170%2C549&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0Federal_Energy_Regulatory_Commission_FERC_Enacts_New_Rules_to_Revitalize_Power_Grid_Amid_Soaring_Demand.jpg?fit=1170%2C549&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":249177,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=249177","url_meta":{"origin":256566,"position":4},"title":"Congressional ethics inquiry into Green Activism in Federal commission marks anniversary","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/23\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Congressional figures responsible for conducting oversight are in position to corral green activists who have burrowed into federal agencies while jeopardizing the domestic availability of energy.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-950.png?fit=1200%2C651&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-950.png?fit=1200%2C651&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-950.png?fit=1200%2C651&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-950.png?fit=1200%2C651&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-950.png?fit=1200%2C651&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":351318,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=351318","url_meta":{"origin":256566,"position":5},"title":"FERCing the nuclear-powered data center","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/15\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On Monday, November 4 \u2014 the day before Election Day \u2013 many\u00a0nuclear power stocks\u00a0were in the dumps. The sharp declines in their stock value had almost nothing to do with the federal election \u2014 but everything to do with federal bureaucrats and, quite possibly, the influence of utilities Exelon and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"American Electric Power\"","block_context":{"text":"American Electric Power","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=american-electric-power"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0homepage-hero-voygr.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0homepage-hero-voygr.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0homepage-hero-voygr.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0homepage-hero-voygr.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0homepage-hero-voygr.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=256566"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":256573,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256566\/revisions\/256573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/256570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=256566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=256566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=256566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}