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On energy, we need many answers. Ky’s Senate Bill 4 is not it. | Opinion [1]
['John Quackenbush', 'Charlie Riedel', 'Lee Carter']
Date: 2023-04
OPINION AND COMMENTARY Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters.
Senate Bill 4 would require the state to keep older coal-fired plants running. AP
Before the Kentucky Legislature adjourns, there is a chance that it could pass legislation that would result in every Kentuckian paying higher electric bills. Known as Senate Bill 4, the proposed law is designed to ensure that older coal plants remain in service longer. But, doing so will prevent the adoption of cleaner alternatives to coal that are capable of producing more affordable electricity.
The bill’s author, Sen. Robby Mills of Henderson, has introduced the law because he believes the transition to cleaner energy – like wind and solar – is happening too fast and jeopardizing the cost and reliability of electricity. He has stated: “Senate Bill 4 is designed to ring the bell in Kentucky, and hopefully in the nation, and to serve as our initial action to address the coming reliability crisis in electric generation.”
As a life-long Republican, and a conservative, I believe that Sen. Robby Mills is well-meaning. To be sure, the Biden administration is being aggressive with promoting clean energy at the risk of leaving people without reliable and affordable power. And, governments in California and Illinois have been too quick to shutter coal plants, leaving those states prone to energy shortages. Indeed, both states experienced blackouts last year during the hottest summer months because they lack enough power generation.
But the situation in Illinois and California, is not the reality in Kentucky.
Kentucky has enough baseload power from sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear power from next door, in Tennessee. Understand, baseload power sources can operate 24/7/365, regardless of the weather or the time of day. The same cannot be said for wind and solar power, which work only some of the time.
The Kentucky PSC already has a process called an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that evaluates the economics of aging coal plants and the economically efficient pace at which to integrate clean resources. My home state of Michigan has benefited from coal plants for decades, but the Michigan PSC recently recognized through its IRP process that, at some point, even the best coal plants become uneconomic for customers.
But if Senate Bill 4 becomes law in Kentucky, the Kentucky PSC IRP process will be interrupted, and local electric companies will be forced to operate outdated coal plants for years after they have outlived their ability to produce affordable electricity. This is not a good solution to ensure that Kentuckians have affordable and reliable power. In fact, it will mean more costly electricity and a less reliable power grid, because dollars that the utilities could be spending on improvements to the electric grid, will instead be spent on operating obsolete coal plants.
Finally, it is misleading when progressives insist that renewables are the answer to all of our energy challenges, because they aren’t, although they can be a cost-effective option when paired with baseload power sources like coal, natural gas and nuclear. It must also be noted that today’s modern coal and natural gas plants are cleaner than they have ever been.
That being said, conservatives shouldn’t reflexively shun renewables, either. Rather, conservatives should embrace wind and solar power if they can help customers save money on their electric bills and ensure reliable power. Senate Bill 4 is well meaning, but it should be rejected by the legislature.
John Quackenbush is the former Chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission.
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[1] Url:
https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article273120270.html
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