reliability

September 29, 2020

In Extreme Heat and Catastrophic Wildfires, Natural Gas Keeps California’s Lights On

“Solar power plunges as smoke shrouds Calif.” “Wildfire Smoke Decreases California Solar Energy Output.” “When Smoke Blotted Out the Sun, Rooftop Solar Dithered.” These were just some of the headlines detailing how California dealt with rolling blackouts during an unprecedented period of extreme heat and catastrophic wildfires. Last month, we wrote about California’s blackouts. Without a […]
September 24, 2020

Op-ed: Bringing the Miracle of Electricity to Bolivia

Energy Fairness board member, Shawn Taylor, recounts his trip with NRECA International (an affiliate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) to electrify a rural Bolivian village. As author Ted Case notes in his book Power Plays, President Kennedy put such stock in bringing electricity to the developing world that […]
September 23, 2020

Oil and gas production ban would hurt New Mexico

ICYMI: Energy Fairness Executive Director Paul Griffin authored an article in the Las Cruces Sun News discussing the damaging effects an oil and gas ban would have on New Mexico’s economy. The original piece can be viewed here. With election season in full swing, some politicians, notably presidential hopeful Joe Biden, think […]
September 16, 2020

Small Scale Nuclear Could Be a Big Deal

We’ve written extensively about the need for new nuclear technologies to help reach global carbon reduction targets. Recently, Oregon-based nuclear startup company, NuScale, received the go-ahead to build the world’s first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR). This approval represents a significant milestone for new nuclear technology. In the past, nuclear […]
September 11, 2020

Flight 93: Electric Co-op Heroes on a Day of National Tragedy

September 11, 2001, is a day that we will always remember. As we remember the heroes and the tragedy of that day, we offer a conversation. Last year, Energy Fairness Executive Director Paul Griffin had the opportunity to speak to Rich Bauer, President and CEO of Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, […]
September 4, 2020

The D.C. Intertie: A Lifeline to California and An Engineering Marvel

It’s been just over 50 years since Neil Armstrong took man’s first steps on the moon, uttering the memorable phrase – “that’s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.” His words put the final stamp on a phenomenal engineering achievement first presented as a challenge to […]
August 31, 2020

Golden State Study Highlights Inequities in Roof-Top Solar

Earlier this month, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) released an independent report detailing how its ratepayers without rooftop solar subsidize its customers with rooftop solar systems at a rate between $25 million and $41 million annually. In a nutshell, the report found that “while net-metered [rooftop] solar provides a […]
August 28, 2020

Shawn Taylor Brings Western Presence to Energy Fairness Board

Washington, DC — Today, the Energy Fairness board announced that Shawn Taylor, Executive Director of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association (WREA), will fill an open position on the board made vacant through the recent resignation of Bill Verner. Verner recently retired after serving a 35 year-plus tenure at the non-profit […]
August 25, 2020

Fossil Fuel Boycotts: Dangerous & Illegal

We’ve written many times about the dangers of America’s largest financial institutions picking winners and losers for energy development, but the trend has sadly continued. Banks are continuing to withhold funding for oil and gas projects, and it is quickly becoming clear that these actions may be illegal. Federal anti-trust […]
August 18, 2020

This Sure Ain’t California Dreamin’ – Rolling Blackouts in the Golden State

As the temperature this past weekend soared to over 100 degrees, millions of Californians found themselves without electricity in the scorching heat. These targeted blackouts marked the first time in nearly 20 years the state’s power providers resorted to rolling blackouts to keep the grid from overloading. For more than […]
August 17, 2020

Legal wrangling tying up fossil fuel projects could be used to target clean energy, too

ICYMI: Energy Fairness Director Paul Griffin authored an article in the Des Moines Register pointing out that the misguided legal arguments used to stall pipeline projects could be used to hinder renewable energy projects as well. The original piece can be viewed here. In a recent opinion in the New York Times, the director of […]
August 13, 2020

Energy Fairness Applauds Common-Sense Action on EPA Methane Gas Rule.

Boulder County, CO – Energy Fairness Executive Director, Paul Griffin, made the following statement today regarding the EPA’s release of the Methane Gas Rule. “From NEPA to today’s release of the final Methane Gas regulation, there has been a concerted effort over the last several years to streamline regulatory efforts […]
August 28, 2017

Back to School with DOE’s New Electricity Markets Report

The Texas coastal community, including Houston, continues to suffer the devastating effect of Hurricane Harvey. To help the relief effort, consider donating $10 to the Red Cross by texting 90999 or giving to the Salvation Army of Houston. All over Northern Virginia, it’s time to head back to school. Adults, […]
October 3, 2017

Lessons on America’s Power Supply Formula

The utility industry, the federal government and numerous NGOs are on the ground helping our 3.4 million fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. The Salvation Army is on the front lines and collecting much-needed donations. Our concern also extends to the victims and families impacted by the terrible events in Las Vegas. In […]
October 26, 2017

PACE Natural Gas Hedging Panel on Facebook Live Today

At the start of October, PACE debuted a short video drawing attention to the importance of natural gas hedging as a tool for keeping power prices stable and affordable. We also highlighted how natural gas increasingly plays a pivotal role in national security. Our two experts, Andy Whitesitt of ACES, […]
November 23, 2017

PACE is Thankful for Progress in 2017

Borrowing from David Letterman, PACE has assembled a Top 10 list of energy policy developments, people and institutions that energy consumers can give thanks for this year. In no particular order: Renewed efforts to (safely and in an environmentally friendly manner) explore, map and perhaps one day develop our country’s […]
January 9, 2018

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

The great majority of U.S. citizens east of the Mississippi have engaged in popular January 2018 conversations – first, “it is so, so [insert profanity of choice] cold outside.” In the greater D.C. metropolitan area, that is quickly followed by “why are the [choose another profanity] schools closed AGAIN?” Involuntary […]
March 16, 2018

Springing Forward on Fuel Diversity

With spring come spending bills, and this year Congress has the chance to support energy diversity across the board. In the FY18 omnibus, and a series (hope springs eternal) of appropriation bills for FY 2019. There are also talks of a fix-it tax package. In short, there are many opportunities […]