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Evangelical Environmental Network: FERC Approval Of PJM Fast Track Power Plant Plan Favors Natural Gas, Leaves Clean, Abundant Energy Behind For Pennsylvania

On February 12, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the PJM Interconnection, Inc.’s Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI) proposal to “fast track” natural gas power plants at the exclusion of renewable and other clean energy projects, leaving them stuck in the permitting queue.

In response, Carolyn Heckman, Associate Director of Pennsylvania Policy for the Evangelical Environmental Network, released the following statement on this action--

“In his recent energy address, Governor Shapiro said we want to ‘position the Commonwealth to continue to be a national energy leader for decades to come.’

“By approving a fast-track proposal that fails to include clean energy projects, FERC’s ruling not only risks Pennsylvania’s energy leadership but also higher energy costs to families and consumers and continued emissions of harmful pollution from power plants.

“As we consider the known and well-researched health risks from fossil fuel pollution impacting our children and neighbors, as well as the recent PJM cost and reliability concerns, we question whether this is the right path toward the affordable, reliable, and clean energy grid that Pennsylvania needs.

“While natural gas power plants remain an important part of our current energy mix, in order to fully lower energy costs, meet rising energy demands, and deliver clean air, we need the swift build-out of renewable and clean energy for a secure and diversified grid.”

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Evangelical Environmental Network website. ENN is based in New Freedom, York County.

The mission of ENN is to inspire, equip, educate, and mobilize evangelical Christians to love God and others by rediscovering and reclaiming the Biblical mandate to care for creation and working toward a stable climate and a healthy, pollution-free world.

NewsClips - PJM Fast Track:

-- Post-Gazette/AP: FERC Approves Fast-Tracking Power Plants By PJM Over Complaints It Favors Natural Gas

-- Bloomberg: PJM Gets FERC Approval To Fast-Track Power Plant Projects Amid A.I. Boom

-- Utility Dive: FERC Approves PJM’s Fast-Track Power Plant Interconnection Plan; Plan May Not Adequately Address Potential Capacity Shortfalls

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PJM Power Grid Presents A Math Problem For Pennsylvania To Meet Peak Electricity Demands

-- Reuters: PPL Electric Raises Transmission Infrastructure Plan By Nearly 40% On Data Center, Electrification, Storm Resilience Demands

-- MCall: As Energy Costs Rise, Politicians, Advocates, Utilities Debate Consumer Protections And Unpaid Bills; LNG Gas Exports Driving Consumer Prices Higher

-- Scranton Times: Scranton Wants PUC To Hold Hearing On 7.5% to 11% UGI Gas Rate Hike Request

-- Utility Dive: New Jersey Residential Customers Face 20% Electric Bill Hikes, Driven By PJM Capacity Prices: NJ Board Of Public Utilities

-- US EIA Natural Gas Price Forecast For 2025 Now 21% Higher Than Last Forecast At $3.80; 2026 Forecast Now $4.20

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 25 to Feb. 14 - Shale Gas Well Ordered Plugged After 8 Years; 20 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Shale Gas Well Leaking Gas For 23 Months And Counting [PaEN]