By: Clay Parker
It seems that society can never escape the constant specter of climate change. News channels, articles, magazines, politicians, and scientists around the world attest that studies show the climate is changing and fossil fuel usage is to blame.[1] Scientists urge that to avert the effects of climate change, society must shift away from fossil fuels.[2] Renewable energy, mostly in the form of wind and solar power generation, has been the main cure from both Federal and State governments for traditional power generation.[3] One of the vehicles used to incentivize investment in green energy is subsidies—specifically, subsidies contained in the United States Code.[4] However, the blackouts in California in the summer of 2020 and the freeze in Texas in 2021 demonstrate that the government subsidies pertaining to green energy may be incentivizing a new problem: grid vulnerability.[5]
Weather events that caused green energy to fail altogether or operate at vastly reduced capacity have been used as a call for more, not less, reliance on renewable energy.[6] The Energy Policy Act of 1992 created the Renewable Energy Production Initiative (REPI), which remains funded to this day.[7] REPI incentivizes construction of power plants using solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, livestock methane, or ocean resources.[8] Other clean-burning plants, such as nuclear power and natural gas, are not included.[9] In the 2021 freeze in Texas, nuclear, natural gas, and wind power dropped to lows of 73 percent, 40 percent, and 2 percent performance, respectively.[10] The reliance on wind power made Texas’s grid more vulnerable to the weather extremes that climate change activists assure us is coming.[11] As another example, I turn to the severe hurricanes that hit Louisiana alone the past two years.
Scientists assert that hurricanes will only become fiercer as the climate changes.[12] A typical wind turbine is designed to withstand 94 mile per hour wind speeds.[13] General Electric is currently designing a “stronger” wind turbine that can withstand 128 mile per hour wind speeds.[14] Hurricane Laura hit with wind speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour in 2021, and Hurricane Ida hit with wind speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour as well in 2021.[15] This is far beyond the limits of a typical wind turbine, and even beyond the limits of the stronger wind turbine being designed by General Electric. Wind speeds on the level of either Laura or Ida would have likely damaged or destroyed any offshore wind farm, along with the damage seen to the power grid throughout the path of the storm. To repair this hypothetical wind farm, crews would have needed to venture into the Gulf of Mexico to repair the broken wind farms before power could be generated, along with the repairs to the electrical grid. In contrast, utilizing the current generation system, Entergy had 90 percent of customers restored to power 16 days after the hurricane.[16] While this timeline has been widely criticized after Ida, it would have likely been worse if power companies had to focus on rebuilding vast wind farms in addition to the damage already sustained. Wind turbines are also not immune to temperature changes.[17] In the winter of 2020-2021, wind turbines throughout Texas were frozen due to ice and persistent cold temperatures.[18] In fact, the Texas freeze dropped wind generation to a capacity as low as 2 percent of normal.[19] Climate scientists emphasize that temperature extremes are likely to occur more often as the climate changes, which begs the question: why incentivize wind farms that could drop to lows of 2 percent capacity when clean burning nuclear power never dropped below 73 percent in the Texas freeze?[20]
The other area of concern in today’s green energy generation plan is solar power. Solar power plants use large arrays of solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity.[21] The electricity generated is then either sent to the electrical grid or stored into a battery.[22] Solar power plants are rated to withstand winds of 140 miles per hour.[23] While not as high as the winds generated by the most powerful hurricanes, solar panel wind ratings are higher than wind turbines and within the recommended wind speed design for any area north of New Orleans.[24] Therefore, solar systems perform better than wind turbines against hurricanes and likely would perform better than conventional power plants which have vulnerable machinery that solar does not use. However, solar energy is not immune to the elements; snowstorms had the highest impact on solar energy due to cloud cover and wintry precipitation.[25] Solar panels also become less efficient when temperatures climb, as shown in the rolling blackouts in the 2020 California heat waves.[26] Solar panels, therefore, are more resistant to wind than wind turbines, but are more susceptible to changes in cloud cover, heat, and cold. Solar panels are certainly more susceptible to these weather events than a natural gas or nuclear plant.
Renewable energy, while a wonderful tool to augment traditional clean-burning power generation, is just as vulnerable if not more vulnerable to the extreme weather we have been assured is coming.[27] Therefore, the grid must become more balanced, not more lopsided towards renewable energy, if the electrical grid is to maintain resilience in the face of worsening severe weather. Congress has been partly to blame for this oversight. The incentive structure is not created to foster reliability in the electrical grid; it is created such that conventional power plants are discouraged, even if they are clean-burning such as natural gas or nuclear.[28] This must change if the country faces more extreme weather and not less. The United States Code creates a program that incentivizes new renewable power generation to the point that companies do not build new conventional generation facilities such as nuclear and natural gas.[29] Natural gas and nuclear facilities also burn clean and were far more resilient and reliable in extreme weather events such as the 2021 freeze in Texas.[30] Clearly, the Federal green energy incentive structure that is implicitly discouraging the construction of new conventional power plants is harming the grid’s resiliency. Congress should act to repeal wholesale the green energy incentives contained in the United States Code or create more incentives for new conventional power plants that burn clean or have net zero carbon emissions.
In conclusion, while it is necessary to continue to invest in new and innovative power supply, it is bad policy for the government to invest in one power generation method to the exclusion of others. Congress sets the priorities on where the United States should invest, and the current policy of heavy investment in renewable energy to the detriment of more traditional power generation is potentially dangerous for the reliability of the electrical grid. Congress should amend the United States Code to distribute incentives based upon a more holistic assessment of a company’s generation plan, not just on whether renewable energy is used. Congress should add guidance for the agencies that disburse the funding in this revision of the United States Code, ensuring that agencies disburse funds to a wide range of clean-burning or net zero projects, such as natural gas and nuclear power. This ensures resiliency and reliability built into the nation’s electrical grid while ensuring carbon emissions do not become unacceptable.
[1] See Climate Action, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports [https://perma.cc/JS54-6X36] (last visited October 20, 2021).
[2] See Climate Action, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports [https://perma.cc/JS54-6X36] (last visited October 20, 2021).
[3] See Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[4] See 42 U.S.C.A. Ch. 84, Subch. XII.
[5] See Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[6] Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[7] 42 U.S.C.A. Ch. 84, Subch. XII.
[8] Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) (Federal), Openei.org, https://openei.org/wiki/Renewable_Energy_Production_Incentive_(REPI)_(Federal) [https://perma.cc/V3CA-8BR9] (last modified Feb. 12, 2015).
[9] Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) (Federal), OpenEI.org, https://openei.org/wiki/Renewable_Energy_Production_Incentive_(REPI)_(Federal) [https://perma.cc/V3CA-8BR9] (last modified Feb. 12, 2015).
[10] Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[11] See Climate Action, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports [https://perma.cc/JS54-6X36] (last visited October 20, 2021).
[12] See Climate Action, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports [https://perma.cc/JS54-6X36] (last visited October 20, 2021).
[13] Chris Noon, Riders on the Storm: GE Is Building A Wind Turbine That Can Weather Violent Typhoons, Hurricanes, General Electric (June 17, 2018), https://www.ge.com/news/reports/riders-storm-ge-building-wind-turbine-can-weather-violent-typhoons-hurricanes [https://perma.cc/NCZ6-8U3U].
[14] Chris Noon, Riders on the Storm: GE Is Building A Wind Turbine That Can Weather Violent Typhoons, Hurricanes, General Electric (June 17, 2018), https://www.ge.com/news/reports/riders-storm-ge-building-wind-turbine-can-weather-violent-typhoons-hurricanes [https://perma.cc/NCZ6-8U3U].
[15] Hurricane Laura, National Weather Service, https://www.weather.gov/lch/2020Laura [https://perma.cc/QX4L-ZBQD] (last visited October 20, 2021); Jonathan Erdman, Hurricane Ida’s 172 MPH Wind Gust in Louisiana Among Nation’s Strongest Measured, The Weather Channel: Hurriane Central (Aug. 30, 2021), https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2021-08-30-hurricane-ida-172-mph-wind-gust-among-us-strongest [https://perma.cc/3ZVV-LQCS].
[16] Ken Daley, Entergy: 90% of La. Customers have power post-Ida; 87,000 are still without, Fox8 (Sept. 14, 2021, 12:05 PM), https://www.fox8live.com/2021/09/14/entergy-louisiana-says-power-restored-90-percent-states-customers-post-ida-87000-are-still-without/ [https://perma.cc/Y7RC-QGMR].
[17] See Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[18] Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[19] Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[20] See Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[21] Christopher McFadden, How Does a Solar Power Plant Work?, Interesting Engineering: Innovation (Feb. 5, 2021), https://interestingengineering.com/how-does-a-solar-power-plant-work.
[22] Christopher McFadden, How Does a Solar Power Plant Work?, Interesting Engineering: Innovation (Feb. 5, 2021), https://interestingengineering.com/how-does-a-solar-power-plant-work.
[23] Jacob Marsh, Can solar panels withstand hail and survive hurricanes?, EnergySage (June 8, 2017), https://news.energysage.com/solar-panels-hail-hurricanes/ [https://perma.cc/L7KT-9JEH].
[24] Claudette Reichel, Wind Hazard Zones for Louisiana, LSU AgCenter (Sept. 29, 2020, 10:31 PM), https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/family_home/home/design_construction/laws%20licenses%20permits/getting%20a%20permit/your%20wind%20zone/wind-hazard-zones-for-louisiana [https://perma.cc/Y4DL-T5B2].
[25] Hidden factors that affect solar farms during severe weather, Science Daily (Aug. 31, 2021), https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210831131359.htm [https://perma.cc/5EZD-L2T2].
[26] Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[27] See Climate Action, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports [https://perma.cc/JS54-6X36] (last visited October 20, 2021).
[28] See Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].
[29] See 42 U.S.C.A. Ch. 84, Subch. XII.
[30] Michael Shellenberger, Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability, Forbes (Apr. 20, 2021, 2:22 AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2021/04/20/why-renewables-cause-blackouts-and-increase-vulnerability-to-extreme-weather/?sh=37c510b74e75 [https://perma.cc/T5ZF-J6V4].