STUDY: Wyoming Wind & Solar Fail Reliability Test

A group that oversees the North American power grid warns that the combination of rapid retirement of coal-fired electricity generation and the increasing reliance on wind and solar are putting American power at risk.

“This assessment provides clear evidence of growing resource adequacy concerns over the next 10 years,” the latest report states. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

NERC provides assessment reports of potential electricity shortfalls.

In its latest long-term assessment, NERC warned of action needed to ensure grid reliability.

NERC has been warning for some time of the increasing risks of electricity shortfalls during periods of high demand such as winter cold and mid-summer heat.

Essentially what they are saying is, if we are going to go the way of Wind and Solar then we need a backup.

A better way to put it is that wind and solar power can help us a little, but what we need is a strong, reliable source of energy.

To better understand this let's hear from someone who is in the power creation industry.

“They use euphemisms that are sort of soft sounding, and they don't want to upset the political types. The political types are noisy and aggressive.” Kevin Kilty, mechanical engineer (JTN).

The report is plane about the shortfalls of wind and solar, which are many.

But let's focus here on when the wind does not blow and the Sun does not shine.

That typically happens at the times when we need energy the most.

“They know that there are all kinds of problems coming unless they can figure out a way to solve them. And that's what this document looks like. It looks like they are now recognizing those problems, and they're trying to give everybody a warning,” Kilty said.

Demand is rising, but our ability to produce reliable and affordable energy is shrinking.

That area includes Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as portions of New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, and Nebraska. (JTN).

“Extreme winter weather, such as Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, remains a serious concern that warrants continued efforts to ensure that generators and fuel supplies are available and capable of performing in severe conditions,” NERC said.

Texas continues to add large amounts of solar power to its grid, but the intermittency of the resource only elevates risks of blackouts, the report explains.