Once again, a recent heatwave has highlighted our economy’s dependence on hydrocarbon fuels. Data from the PJM regional energy market reveals that two-thirds of the electricity supporting Virginia on a particularly hot afternoon was generated by natural gas, oil, and coal. At noon on Thursday, for instance, 67% of the electricity within PJM came from these sources, totaling nearly 96 out of 143 gigawatts. Additionally, around 23% was produced by nuclear power plants, while just over 10% originated from various renewable sources. One graph clearly shows that wind and solar energy contributed a mere fraction of the total power—essentially a nominal, symbolic amount.
Wind energy is especially unreliable during hot spells, and solar energy’s absence from the grid after sunset can lead to significant spikes in electricity prices. Earlier this week, the marginal price in Virginia surged past $3,000 within the PJM trading network, translating to $3 per kilowatt-hour, compared to the usual rate of around 15 cents per kilowatt-hour that most Virginians pay. While solar power can be cost-effective at times, its reliance on daylight means that its sudden disappearance can have serious economic repercussions. Hydrocarbon sources—gas, coal, and nuclear—provide consistent energy, ensuring our homes remain cool, unaffected by the setting sun or the dying wind.
The PJM Interconnection, which includes Virginia among its 13-state operations, managed to function adequately during this heatwave, which was no hotter than what we typically experience in summer. However, PJM reported tight reserve margins at times, indicating that an unexpected disruption—a power plant failure or a transmission line issue—could have led to brownouts or worse. There is an urgent need for additional reliable and dispatchable generation capacity within Virginia.
Unfortunately, the time to act was two to three years ago, yet the focus has primarily been on adding solar and wind resources. The quickest and most reliable solution is natural gas. However, the outdated Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) hinders the addition of new natural gas generation, despite not restricting new nuclear power projects. Furthermore, the VCEA imposes a mandate for the retirement of reliable hydrocarbon generators by 2045 in the Dominion Energy territory. This raises the question: who would invest in a power plant meant to last 30 years only to be forced to shut it down in 2045?
The VCEA also imposes hefty financial penalties on Dominion and Virginia’s other major electricity provider, Appalachian Power, requiring them to utilize increasingly unreliable wind and solar power or to purchase renewable energy certificates from elsewhere to meet these arbitrary goals. According to an application pending at the State Corporation Commission, compliance with the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of the VCEA will cost Dominion’s customers $609 million over the next year—funds that will buy renewable energy certificates but not a single watt of electricity.
A recent report from the SCC hearing examiner provides a long-term estimate of the RPS mandate’s cost, suggesting that consumers could face a staggering $220 billion over the next 50 years. This figure, confirmed by SCC staff, represents a significant increase from the $141 billion estimated two years ago. Ultimately, this $220 billion would be far better spent on constructing new power plants in Virginia rather than subsidizing wind or solar generation elsewhere.
If voters in Virginia truly wish to impose such burdens on future generations, they deserve to be aware of the implications. They should be asked, five years after the passage of the VCEA, if they still believe that wind and solar power can adequately support their homes and the increasingly energy-intensive data centers. The soaring electricity demand from this sector is a primary reason PJM is hitting new records during what would otherwise be a typical heat event.
This challenge to the electric grid was not anticipated when the VCEA was enacted, which has allowed some Democrats to suggest that the law may need modifications to reflect current realities. However, many of their constituents and the committed climate activists in the media are unlikely to support any changes. One Virginia commentator has called for more transparency, yet discussions with Democrats reveal little detail about potential adjustments if they retain control after the upcoming elections.
Once again, the report overlooks the clear lesson from the PJM data: the reliability and affordability of our current gas-dominated energy infrastructure. If Dwayne Yancey of Cardinal News inquired about adding natural gas, he did not report their responses. Instead, his focus was on the last remaining coal plant owned by Dominion in Southwest Virginia—a facility that is both insignificant and inefficient, often sidelined. It serves primarily to appease Southwest Virginia legislators who view it as the most vital asset, despite the fact that few of their constituents are served by Dominion and many within Dominion’s territory are indifferent to the plant’s operation.
In the crucial energy discussions for 2025, every candidate in Virginia must clarify their position. Will they support the rapid approval of substantial new natural gas generation in the state? Will they at the very least amend the VCEA to allow it to compete with wind and solar? Keep the PJM data handy when posing these questions.
Steve Haner is a Senior Fellow for Environment and Energy Policy. He can be reached at [email protected].
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/heat-wave-highlights-limitations-of-wind-and-solar-energy-in-virginias-power-grid/
