Presidential candidate Biden and Congress are focused on solutions to the climate crisis. Billions of dollars in new investment will be needed. But money will not be enough. In our op-ed, “FERC’s Capacity Markets Limit Clean Energy and Cost Billions; It’s Time for Congress to Act,” published August 27, 2020, in Utility Dive, we argue that the fate of US efforts to transition to a clean energy economy depends on federal and state cooperation. But the federal government, through the actions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is actively undermining state programs. If not reversed, consumers will bear billions in unnecessary costs, as older, less environmentally-friendly plants remain online, contrary to state and citizen preferences. A recent House report recommends a fix to the problem, which should be pursued.
