U.S. Energy Dept grid study calls for boost to coal, nuclear power

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#ENVIRONMENT AUGUST 24, 2017 / 9:34 AM / 2 HOURS AGO

U.S. Energy Dept grid study calls for boost to coal, nuclear power

Reuters Staff
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Energy Department report calls for incentives to boost coal-fired and nuclear power plants following a slew of closures that it said undermined reliable sources of electricity.

The findings of the study, released late on Wednesday, drew scorn from renewable energy advocates but praise from the coal and nuclear industries.

The report dovetails with President Donald Trump's promise to revive the ailing mining sector. But it differs from conclusions presented in an earlier draft, which had said big increases in renewable power generation remained possible without undermining grid reliability.

The administration had not yet reviewed the early draft, which was written by department staff.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry commissioned the study in April to evaluate whether "regulatory burdens" imposed by past administrations, including that of former President Barack Obama, had hurt the grid by forcing shutdowns of baseload plants, which provide nonstop power, like those fired by coal and nuclear fuel.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-powergrid-study-idUSKCN1B41NJ

[tonyt53]

1. Hell, natural gas power production is far more reliable than coal.

Perry's home state has had a huge increase in the production of natural gas. TX hasn't allowed a traditional coal-fired plant to be build in over ten years. Is trump going to pit the coal mining industry against the oil/gas industry? Is he going to make power producers switch back to coal from natural gas? A power producer makes 30% - 38% more profit over coal-fired generation.

The thing about the "Obama killing coal" nonsense is that the regulations Obama's EPA put into place won't take effect for 8 years or so. The Clean Air regulations put into place in 2006 (last I heard, Obama didn't take office until 2009), had a ten year compliance window. That means 2016 before full compliance was required. Hell, Obama didn't kill coal, Bush II and T. Boone Pickens did it in.