The U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency signed a joint memorandum of understanding to increase new clean energy opportunities to support access to reliable, affordable electricity.
The Joint Memorandum on Interagency Communication and Consultation on Electric Reliability was announced March 10, according to a news release. DOE and EPA signed the memorandum to facilitate the growth of clean energy sources and help the U.S. move toward a net-zero economy by 2050, a goal of President Joe Biden's administration.
"The clean energy transition is an amazing opportunity to add a diverse range of energy sources to our power systems, making them more resilient and reliable," U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said in the release. "I am proud that DOE and EPA are partnering together with industry and communities to help equip the grid to deliver affordable, clean electricity to all Americans."
With escalating challenges to electrical power reliability, including extreme weather events and increased energy demand, the collaboration between EPA and DOE is intended to establish a framework to harness the reliability benefits of a clean energy industry, the release reported.
Reliable electric power is essential to the country's national security, as well as its economic growth and public health, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in the news release.
"That's why DOE and EPA are uniting our long-standing efforts to ensure a robust and resilient system, especially as the power sector accelerates the transition to low- and zero-carbon energy sources," Regan added, according to the release. "Under this partnership with DOE, we will provide needed regulatory certainty and support grid reliability and resiliency at every stage as the agency advances efforts to reduce pollution, protect public health, and deliver environmental and economic benefits for all."
The memorandum shows DOE's and EPA's partnership with the power industry, Edison Electric Institute President Tom Kuhn said, according to the release.
"EEI and our member electric companies are focused on affordability and reliability as we work to get the energy we provide to customers as clean as we can as fast as we can," Kuhn said in the release. "Both the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are critical partners in these efforts, and we applaud increased coordination to support the ongoing clean energy transition that electric companies are leading."
A solid power grid is good for U.S. communities, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Executive Director Greg R. White said in the release.
"As we have seen in recent years, the reliability of the electric grid is tied directly to the safety and well-being of our communities," White said, according to the release. "Maintaining electricity system reliability during the transition to cleaner energy is critical to NARUC’s members and is in everyone’s best interest. As such, we applaud the DOE and EPA for taking this initiative."
Regional transmission company PJM Interconnection LLC said it supports the memorandum, as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's part in the understanding, the release said.
"PJM supports the Memorandum of Understanding between EPA and DOE, as well as the close involvement of FERC, in addressing electric sector reliability during the energy transition,” PJM Interconnection said in the release. "PJM is grateful for the support for reliability that the DOE and EPA have shown in our ongoing collaboration efforts surrounding the development and implementation of federal policy and regulations."
Analysis Group Senior Advisor Susan Tierney said she appreciates DOE and EPA staff members commitment to work together for energy reliability, the release reported.
"The complex transitions underway in the nation’s electric system can only occur on a foundation of superb reliability," Tierney said, according to the release. "Secretary Granholm and Administrator Regan underscore the importance of this fact in committing DOE and EPA staff to work together as they carry out their old and new authorities to help ready the U.S. power sector for the needs of Americans today and tomorrow."
