DOE report pushes coal despite finding no grid issues with renewable energy

After months of anticipation, and following a leaked draft, today the Department of Energy released its report on the reliability of the nation’s electricity grid.

Debunking Secretary Rick Perry’s controversial memo requesting the analysis in April, the report finds the grid is more dependable than ever and renewables pose no threat to baseload power.

The Trump administration set out to develop a report that would be a first strike against renewable energy, and would support the fossil fuel industry, but the facts got in the way,” said Katie Ottenweller, Senior Attorney and leader of SELC’s Solar Initiative. “The Department of Energy’s report confirms a basic truth about the benefits of clean energy sources like solar power that we in the Southeast have long known: our electric grid is more reliable than ever before because of renewables.

Unfortunately, these facts didn’t stop the Trump administration from attempting to skew the results in the 11th hour, including stripping the report of any mention of climate change and making unsubstantiated claims boosting coal.

Even as the report concedes that having less coal and nuclear power has led to a more flexible and secure grid, Secretary Perry continues to sound the alarm, calling for a comprehensive strategy to prop up these aging, costly plants,” said Ottenweller. “Instead of bending over backward to appease the fossil fuel industry, the Trump Administration needs to listen to the facts and follow through with policies that continue our nation’s transition to homegrown clean energy – for the sake of our national security, consumers’ pocketbooks, our health, and our environment.