Grid Overseer Warns of Reliability Risks Under EPA's Proposal

Press Release

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the organization charged with protecting America's power supply, today warned that the Obama administration's power plant proposal would threaten the nation's electric reliability. In a new report, NERC raised concerns about EPA's assumptions in its proposed "Clean Power Plan," including the compliance timelines. NERC called for more time and increased analysis to determine whether the nation's electric grid could withstand EPA's aggressive proposal. The NERC report also stressed the need to build more natural gas pipelines and transmission infrastructure as utilities are forced to switch away from coal-fired power.

Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) commented, "NERC's report underscores the growing reliability concerns with EPA's unworkable plan. EPA is seeking to eliminate one of our nation's most abundant and affordable sources of power, but the administration has yet to provide honest answers about just how damaging the consequences will be for our nation's power grid and our economy. We can't afford to play a guessing game when it comes to energy reliability, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure American businesses and families are not left in the dark."

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