January 1, Study Reveals Cheaper Options Than Renewables

Wyatt’s Take

• New England could save up to $700 billion with gas or nuclear power instead of renewables by 2050.
• Relying only on renewables risks 18-hour blackouts and big price hikes for families.
• Voters and politicians are starting to rethink their energy plans as costs soar.

A new report shows New England ratepayers might save hundreds of billions if the region replaced most renewables with nuclear or natural gas power plants. The study found these options would also keep the lights on and prevent long blackouts, unlike renewables-only plans.

Most New England states pay the highest electric bills in America, partly due to heavy green energy rules. By 2050, those rules would require over 70% of the region’s power to come from wind, solar, and batteries.

“The big reason for that is the dispatchable resources don’t require the same overbuilding and curtailment that you would need for renewables,” said Isaac Orr of Always On Energy Research.

If New England builds new natural gas plants, families could save up to $708 billion and cut carbon emissions by nearly a quarter. Going with nuclear would save almost $400 billion and slash emissions by over 90%. A mix of both would also mean big savings and fewer emissions.

Trying to run the grid mostly on wind and solar would mean building thousands of turbines and millions of solar panels, at a cost of $815 billion. The study warns this path could cause massive blackouts lasting up to 18 hours, putting lives and businesses in danger when the power fails.

Voters in states like Massachusetts are getting fed up, and politicians are responding. Governor Healey delayed new heating rules because families are struggling to keep up with energy bills. Some experts urge lawmakers to focus on keeping energy affordable, not just chasing green policies.

Not every state is following the crowd. New Hampshire, for example, hasn’t signed on to strict net-zero laws. As Drew Cline from a New Hampshire think tank put it, “New Hampshire was really a political pariah in New England for pursuing a reality-based energy policy focused on reliability and affordability.”

More politicians are reconsidering earlier green promises as voters pressure them on pocketbook issues. The study says new gas plants would need more pipeline capacity, and while that may be unpopular with some, it’s the cheapest way to meet rising energy demand.

Despite what some media and politicians claim, this report points to natural gas and nuclear as better bets to keep the lights on and bills low for regular folks.

Want the facts straight from the source? Check it out here:

Full report on New England energy costs

Wyatt Matters

Affordable and reliable power means security for working families. Heartland values like practicality and common sense show that sometimes the tried-and-true path serves people better than risky experiments.