Trash And Wood Accounted For Major ‘Renewable Energy’ Share During Winter Storm, Reports Show
(Photo by Andres Kudacki via Getty Images)
Posted For: taxpayer22
A powerful winter system, Winter Storm Fern, caused widespread damage and loss of life across the United States, leaving at least 28 people dead and cutting electricity to more than 800,000 homes and businesses. As the storm drove up power demand and energy prices, much of the electricity used in New England was generated from fossil fuels, according to regional grid data.
During the worst of the storm, oil and other traditional fuel sources played a major role in keeping electricity flowing in the region. Data from ISO New England indicated that oil alone produced about 35 percent of the area’s electricity at peak generation. Renewable sources struggled to keep up as wind and solar output declined during the severe weather.
A significant portion of what was categorized as renewable energy in the region came from burning wood and processed waste materials. According to snapshots of grid data, renewable energy accounted for only about 5 percent of the overall energy mix at one point on Jan. 25. Of that renewable share, roughly 35 percent came from burning wood while about 31 percent came from refuse-derived fuel. A later snapshot on Jan. 30 showed that wood and waste together still made up just over 30 percent of renewable power generation.
Refuse-derived fuel, commonly called RDF, is created from solid waste and is used by some industries as a substitute for fossil fuels. The material typically includes items such as paper, cardboard, food scraps, and plastics, which are processed or burned to produce energy.
In response to concerns raised during the storm, some House Republicans are pushing legislation aimed at strengthening the reliability of the nation’s power grid. A spokesperson for the House Energy and Commerce Committee said the proposals focus on streamlining pipeline permitting and allowing grid operators to prioritize power sources that can be dispatched quickly when demand rises.
Representative Brett Guthrie, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said the recent storm highlighted weaknesses in the current energy system.
“When winter storms hit, Americans shouldn’t have to worry about whether the power will stay on,” Guthrie said. “Unfortunately, years of misguided energy policies in blue states have weakened grid reliability and driven up costs for families. That’s why Energy and Commerce Republicans continue to advance commonsense legislation to strengthen our grid, expand pipeline infrastructure, and make sure reliable and affordable energy is available when Americans need it most.”
Energy officials also took emergency steps during the storm. The Department of Energy issued temporary orders allowing certain power plants in New England and other regions to operate beyond their normal emissions limits if necessary to prevent outages. ISO New England asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright for permission to run power plants at full capacity on Jan. 25 as the storm intensified, citing concerns about environmental permitting restrictions.
Wright said the administration is focusing on energy policy that prioritizes reliability and affordability.
“President Trump got elected to bring the focus back to humans, about energy, about math, about facts — not silly and, unfortunately, innumerate climate politics,” Wright told reporters. “We’ve done almost nothing to change global greenhouse gas emissions from endless regulations on electricity that have just driven up prices and reduced reliability.”
The storm also reignited debate about energy policy in the Northeast. Several New England states have shut down coal plants in recent years, while some Democratic leaders in the region have opposed new pipeline construction and pursued aggressive climate targets as part of efforts to shift toward greener energy sources.
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