FERC’s Rejection of DOE’s Attack on Markets Shows Evidence Matters

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today terminated the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposal to provide new revenue and guaranteed profits to the owners of inefficient and aging coal and nuclear power plants. FERC additionally opened a new proceeding, requiring grid operators to provide information on resilience issues in their regions.

In doing so, FERC made clear that the DOE’s proposal did not satisfy “clear and fundamental legal requirements.” Instead, FERC stated that resilience issues should be identified through an unbiased, evidence-driven proceeding. This conclusion only further underscores the well-established grid practices, operations, and wholesale markets that have kept the lights on throughout the recent east coast cold weather event.

“FERC was right to reject the DOE’s costly and ill-considered proposal that would have undermined markets and an increasingly competitive, clean, and affordable electricity sector. FERC’s decision prioritizes deliberate, careful study over politicization.”

• Michael Panfil, Director Federal Energy Policy and Senior Attorney