Senate Hearing this Week: Quotes in Support of the Coal Fleet

  • “The grid’s integrity is maintained by an abundant and diverse supply of fuel sources today, especially with onsite fuel capability.  However, the real question is whether or not this diversity will be here tomorrow.” Bruce Walker, Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. DOE

 

  • According to Andy Ott, CEO of PJM, during the recent bomb cyclone cold weather event, ” [W]e could not have served customers without the coal-fired resources … they’re clearly needed for now.”

 

  • “What was apparent during this weather event was the continued reliance on baseload generation and a diverse energy portfolio. Without action that recognizes the essential reliability services provided by a strategically diversified generation portfolio, we cannot guarantee the resilience of the electric grid.” Bruce Walker, DOE

 

  • “We could not survive without natural gas. We could not survive without We could not survive without nuclear. Each brings reliability characteristics, but the price doesn’t always reflect that … we need to fix that.” Andy Ott, PJM

 

  • “When we start relying on natural gas and oil, we increase our exposure … [T]he critical infrastructure is not the coal sitting at a plant or a nuclear facility, now I’ve got to rely on thousands of miles of pipelines and oil deliveries.”Bruce Walker, DOE