ICYMI: MANCHIN QUESTIONS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NOMINEES ON COAL R&D AND GRID RELIABILITY
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today questioned nominees for the Department of Energy. Senator Manchin discussed the importance of technology development with Steven E. Winberg, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Energy, Fossil Energy. If confirmed, Mr. Winberg’s responsibility will include management of the National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) in Morgantown, WV. Senator Manchin also discussed the importance of baseload power plants with Bruce J. Walker, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Energy, Electricity, Delivery and Energy Reliability.
During the hearing, Senator Manchin elaborated on the importance of ensuring baseload plants are kept online to provide necessary reliability services for U.S. energy needs. Senator Manchin highlighted the coal fleet’s efforts to install controls for environmental compliance and noted “they have some life left in their cycles. If they shut down because they can’t compete right now with the lower prices, they’re not going to come back up... Someone’s got to step to the plate and say ‘listen we’ve got to keep some of these in that rate base so that we have reliability’.”
In April, Senator Manchin sent a letter to the White House requesting a Department of Energy study examining threats to electric reliability and baseload power generation. On August 23, the Department of Energy released a staff report examining the reliability challenges ahead.
To watch a video of the Senator’s remarks, please click here.
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