The ice has mostly melted from Winter Storm Fern, but not before putting America’s electric grid to the test. Coal, natural gas, and nuclear stand out as the clear winners, keeping homes heated and lights on. Wind, solar, and battery storage fell flat, failing to generate power when needed. Let this be a lesson to lawmakers and elected officials: Energy sources matter, and policy should prioritize those that prove steady and resilient no matter what Mother Nature throws their way.
In the midst of the storm, coal use surged 31 percent from the previous week and accounted for 21 percent of all electricity generation during Fern. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) grid relied on coal for 40 percent of its electricity; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland Interconnection (PJM) utilized it for 24 percent. Coal rose from a mid-January low of around 70 GWh/day to about 130 GWh/day.
Coal’s distinct advantages repeatedly prove its indispensability during severe weather events. Maintaining on-site fuel inventories eliminates pipeline dependency and units can increase output within hours. Coal withstands extreme temperatures and runs continuously at high-capacity factors while its costs remain relatively stable.
Kristen Walker is Senior Policy Analyst and Manager for Energy and Transportation with the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. Follow ACI on X @ConsumerPal.