The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Senate section on pages S7261-S7262 on Nov. 15, 2017.
The Department oversees energy policies and is involved in how the US handles nuclear programs. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department's misguided energy regulations have caused large losses to consumers for decades.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-138. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorializing the importance of grid reliability and fuel-secure baseload energy; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Senate Resolution No. 227
Whereas, Electric generation power plants in this Commonwealth that participate in the wholesale electric markets strengthen competition and enhance the resilience and reliability of the bulk power and transmission systems and are vital to the public interest; and
Whereas, The nation's and the Commonwealth's economy, environment and security depend on a reliable, resilient electric grid powered by an ``all of the above'' mix of energy generation resources, including traditional baseload generation that is produced from long-term fuel sources located onsite; and
Whereas, The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, whose mission is to assure the reliability and security of North America's bulk power system, in a May 2017 letter to United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry warned that ``premature retirements of fuel-secure baseload generating stations reduces resilience to fuel supply disruptions''; and
Whereas, The recent United States Department of Energy Staff Report to the Secretary on Electricity Markets and Reliability made clear that resiliency must be addressed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and there is an ``urgent need for clear definitions of reliability- and resilience-enhancing attributes and should quickly establish the market means to value or the regulatory means to provide them''; and
Whereas, The 2014 polar vortex exposed problems with the resiliency of the electric grid when PJM Interconnection struggled to meet demand for electricity because a significant amount of generation was not available to run due to weather-related outages; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's fuel-secure baseload generation plants employ thousands of workers in high-paying jobs and contribute significantly to State and local economics; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's coal industry, including coal power plants, is a vital contributor to the State's economy, providing support through direct, indirect and induced impacts, including approximately 36,100 full and part-time jobs, and $4.1 billion in total value added to the Commonwealth's economy; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's nuclear industry, including nuclear power plants, is a vital contributor to the State's economy, providing support through direct, indirect and induced impacts, including approximately 15,900 in-State full time jobs and $2 billion to the Commonwealth's gross domestic product, and $69 million in net State tax revenues annually; and
Whereas, In addition to the reliability, security, grid resilience and economic attributes, Pennsylvania's fuel-secure baseload coal plants have made significant investments to meet increased environmental standards, helping to improve air and water quality in the Commonwealth; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania is also home to unique fuel-secure coal generation sources that use waste coal as a fuel-source, employing 3,800 Pennsylvania residents and producing 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy, also helping to remove approximately 200 million tons of refuse coal from mine scarred land in Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, In addition to the reliability, security, grid resilience and economic attributes, Pennsylvania's fuel-secure baseload nuclear power plants also provide more than 93% of this Commonwealth's emissions-free electricity and are the only emissions-free, predictable and reliable electric generation source; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's diverse portfolio of fuel-secure baseload generation resources are vital to our Commonwealth's economic competitiveness, natural environment and public health and safety; and
Whereas, It is in the public interest that fuel-secure baseload generation resources be properly compensated for providing these positive attributes and under the current design of the wholesale electric markets, prices are set in a manner that undervalues fuel-secure generation resources; and
Whereas, The Secretary of Energy has proposed, for consideration by FERC, a Grid Resilience Pricing Rule with the goal of ensuring our nation's energy security; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acknowledge the grid resilience and reliability benefits that fuel-secure baseload electricity generation resources provide to the residents, business and economy of this Commonwealth and assert that fuel-secure baseload generation resources receive proper compensation for these positive attributes; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania agree with the goals of the United States Department of Energy's proposed Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule and urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to swiftly implement policies and approve tariff provisions to ensure fuel-secure baseload electricity generation resources receive proper compensation for all of the positive attributes they provide our nation's and this Commonwealth's electric system; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, while expressing support for FERC's swift action to ensure the positive attributes provided by fuel-secure baseload generation resources receive proper compensation in the wholesale market, will continue to exercise the General Assembly's authority to make energy policy consistent with the health, safety and welfare of our residents; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, FERC Commissioners, the presiding officers of each house of Congress, each member of Congress from Pennsylvania and the Board of Managers of PJM Interconnection.
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