Power Plant Rule Threatens Electric Reliability
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative’s (MWEC) top priority is ensuring reliable electricity at an affordable cost for our member-owners. Transparency is one of our core values, so in addition to sharing co-op successes, I believe we also have
a responsibility to tell you about the challenges we face.
In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule that impacts energy production from power plants. The power plant rule will undoubtedly threaten access to reliable electricity for our local communities and communities across the country.
The rule constrains existing coal plants and new natural gas plants by requiring them to install carbon capture and storage (CCS), a technology that has potential, but has not been proven to be viable as required. No power plant in North America currently uses CCS at the scale and levels mandated by EPA.
When power plants aren’t able to comply with EPA’s CCS requirements, they will be required to close, significantly limit operations or switch fuels. These unrealistic standards will force the unnecessary and early shutdown of many power plants that currently provide reliable electricity 24/7.
When this rule was announced, I highlighted the critical role of diversification in improving grid reliability. MWEC works closely with our local generation and transmission cooperatives, Upper Missouri Power Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative (BEPC), to ensure we have enough resources to meet current needs and future demand. A diverse fuel mix is essential for BEPC to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity for our members.
Renewable sources, such as solar and wind, are important components of our overall generation mix. But given the intermittent nature of these energy sources, we simply cannot depend on them, because the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine. The need for always-available power generating resources is still essential.
The timing of the power plant rule is equally troubling. At the same time the EPA is leading our nation down the path to fewer power plants, utilities are facing a surge in electricity demand.
Many states have already experienced rolling outages, and if the supply of electricity is further threatened by the EPA’s power plant rule, the problem will only get worse. In fact, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the nation’s electric reliability watchdog, recently forecasted over the next five years, all or parts of 19 states are at high risk of rolling power outages during normal peak electricity demand conditions.
It’s also no secret when demand is high and supply is low, costs go up. We’re concerned about threats to reliability as well as cost increases to our members.
MWEC remains committed to supporting the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), a service organization representing over 900 electric cooperatives across the United States.
In late July, after a lower court rejected a similar request, NRECA requested the U.S. Supreme Court place a hold on the EPA’s final power plant rule. We will continue to join electric co-ops nationwide to fight these regulations and are actively engaging with local elected officials to help them understand the impact these rules would have on all North Dakotans. I don’t say all of this to worry you, but I do want our members to understand the challenges that lie ahead. Just as we’ve always done, we will look for solutions that serve our members best.
Co-ops are no strangers to innovation, and we’re taking proactive steps to address today’s energy challenges and tomorrow’s energy needs. At the end of the day, our top priority is to meet our members’ energy needs, and we must have reliable electricity available to do that.
If you’re interested in learning more about policy impacts to power reliability, or to make your voice heard on this matter, visit www.voicesforcooperativepower.com.
To read this story and more in the September issue of the North Dakota Living magazine CLICK HERE!
*Picture: Pioneer Generation Station, Williston ND