Philosophers refer to the chasing of unrealistic dreams as “building castles in the air.” To be sure, there is a place for dreams, but they must be built on the firm foundation of reality. With each passing day, it becomes more evident that renewable energy sources are not able to provide the reliable, affordable energy our nation and world requires. The promises that they can also continue to crumble to dust.
Every winter and summer peak season, our traditional baseload power generation facilities — coal, natural gas, and nuclear — are inevitably asked to step up and meet the increased demand. Were those dispatchable sources not available, the harsh reality is we would face widespread shortages and possible grid failure.
Our political leaders refuse to face this reality in spite of all the warning signs. Instead, they continue to build our economic house on the sands of irrationality and their perceived constituents’ preference.
During this winter’s outbreak of extremely cold weather across the Mid-Atlantic, the nation’s remaining coal-fired power plants were called upon yet again to come to the rescue of the Carolinas’ grid, increasing their generation by 172% to keep the lights on and heat available.
During the cold snap, coal-fired electric generation increased 63% in eastern and New England states. The increase in coal power allowed power to continue flowing at reasonable prices and allowed electricity to be supplied to chronically power-short neighboring regions and grid operators. Nationally, coal-fired generation increased 43% during this time, providing an additional 41,000 megawatt hours of electricity to a strained national power grid.
What would have happened had those coal-fired power plants not been available to shoulder the load? The cold hard truth is that the nation’s electric grid would likely have collapsed, resulting in needless and unspeakable human tragedy.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Each year that passes, the numbers of these critical events grow as traditional power plants are forced to retire. These events serve as stark reminders of the significant importance of prioritizing traditional baseload energy sources over renewables in ensuring grid stability and in meeting the ever-growing energy needs of society.
To be clear, there is nothing wrong with developing renewable sources, but we must recognize their limitations. Supporters claim these technologies are a panacea — enabling us to mitigate climate change and achieve energy independence. The reality, however, is far from a panacea. It is, instead, the Sirens’ call, leading us to disaster.
One of the primary challenges associated with wind and solar power is their intermittent nature. Unlike traditional baseload sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear, which provide consistent and predictable electricity output, renewable sources are heavily dependent on weather conditions. Wind turbines require a steady breeze, and solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. These conditions are not constant, though, and can fluctuate unpredictably, leading to dramatic variability in energy production.
The intermittency of renewable energy poses significant challenges for grid operators working to maintain grid stability. Fluctuations in supply strain the grid as well as baseload-generation units, leading to potential brownouts and blackouts.
Another critical consideration related to the intermittent nature of renewable sources is that it can lead to market distortions and volatility in electricity prices. During periods of high renewable output, electricity prices may plummet, impacting the profitability of traditional baseload generators and potentially undermining their financial viability. Periods of low renewable output — summer heat often comes with less wind, and winter cold is usually accompanied by cloudy conditions that reduce both solar output and wind generation — result in skyrocketing prices for the electricity available.
In contrast, traditional baseload sources benefit from economies of scale and established infrastructure, resulting in relatively stable and predictable operating costs. While concerns about carbon emissions and environmental externalities exist, advancements in clean-coal technologies and carbon capture and storage offer pathways to reduce the environmental impact of traditional baseload generation.
Furthermore, traditional baseload sources contribute to energy security by reducing dependence on intermittent renewable sources and imported energy. Maintaining a diversity of energy sources — including coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric power — enhances energy resilience and reduces vulnerability to supply disruptions or…
Read More: National View: Prioritize baseload electricity; not all energy sources are