101 - The Secretary of Energy

Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency directive on Tuesday ordering one unit at the coal-fired Craig Generating Station in northwest Colorado to stay ready for operation until March 30, 2026. The Denver Gazette reports this move under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act aims to address shortages of electric energy and generation facilities in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council Northwest region. The plant's retirement was set for Wednesday, but mechanical issues currently sideline the unit, thrusting the area into debates over energy reliability and climate goals.The Colowyo coal mine, a key supplier, shuts down this month, with 133 layoffs starting January 6, 2026. Moffat County faces 437 job losses and a 43 percent drop in property tax revenue, hitting a community of over 9,000 that grew around coal since the 1930s. The U.S. Department of Energy press release states the order prevents potential blackouts.Criticism poured in quickly. Governor Jared Polis called it ludicrous, saying it burdens Colorado ratepayers with millions in repair costs for an unneeded, broken plant. Colorado Energy Office director Will Toor echoed that it raises utility bills. Environmental groups like Earthjustice and the National Parks Conservation Association decried it as favoring coal over health and clean air for parks.Supporters praised the short-term job preservation. Craig Mayor Chris Nichols welcomed the boost, while U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd blamed state policies for hurting workers. State Senator Dennis Hisey pushes small modular nuclear reactors as replacements for good-paying jobs.Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the main owner, pledged full compliance and cost-effective steps. As Craig diversifies with solar, natural gas, and storage projects, plus state aid, the coal era wanes but lingers amid tension.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

The Secretary of Energy has been at the center of recent energy policy shifts under the Trump administration. Federal regulators ordered the coal-fired Craig Station power plant in Colorado to remain open, countering plans to close it amid the shutdown of its main supplier, the Colowyo coal mine, which laid off 133 workers effective January 6, as reported by The Intelligencer and Gazette. This move aims to preserve jobs and reliable power generation in the region.Energy bills across parts of the country saw a slight rise starting January 1 due to an increase in the price cap, according to Electricity Info. Meanwhile, the administration faces criticism for actions impacting offshore wind projects, with Dominion Energy's promised turbines, set to feed the grid by March, now stalled, per Canary Media.On a related front, though involving the Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, a first-in-the-nation waiver took effect January 1 in Nebraska, restricting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds from buying soda and energy drinks. Governor Jim Pillen pushed for this after hosting Rollins, citing health risks like increased anxiety and sleep issues in children from caffeine and sugar, backed by studies from the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins, as detailed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.Other updates include ongoing upgrades to Fort McCoy's power grid in Wisconsin, switching to a Wye electrical system, according to DVIDS, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission notational orders dated December 31.These developments highlight tensions between fossil fuel support, renewable setbacks, and consumer energy costs in the early days of 2026.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued emergency orders this week to keep two Indiana coal plants operational. According to the Department of Energy website, these actions ensure reliable power for Americans in the Midwest region during high demand periods. The orders prevent immediate shutdowns at the plants, which supply critical electricity to the grid.This decision highlights ongoing efforts to maintain energy stability amid winter weather challenges. The Department of Energy news page details how the directives address potential shortages, prioritizing public safety and grid reliability. Wrights move underscores the administrations focus on domestic energy sources, including coal, to meet immediate needs.Energy experts note that such emergency measures are rare but necessary when plants face closure deadlines. The Indiana plants, key to regional power generation, will continue operations under federal oversight until further assessments. This follows recent grid strain reports from the Midwest, where cold snaps increase heating demands.Wright, confirmed earlier this year, has emphasized practical solutions to energy security. His orders align with broader policies supporting fossil fuels alongside renewables. No disruptions are expected for consumers, as the plants provide baseload power essential for homes and businesses.The Department of Energy confirms the plants met all safety standards before the orders. This action prevents blackouts and supports economic activity in coal-dependent communities.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

On December 16, 2025, the United States Secretary of Energy declared an emergency in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council Northwest assessment area due to a shortage of electric energy. This order, numbered 202-25-11, mandated that Unit 2 of the coal-fired Centralia Generating Station in Washington State remain open to address the crisis. The Department of Energy document states that shortages of electric energy and generation facilities threaten public health, safety, and national defense in areas including parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and California.This declaration ties into broader energy challenges under the Trump Administration. It follows President Trumps Executive Order 14156 from January 20, 2025, which proclaimed a national energy emergency over insufficient production, transportation, refining, and generation. A July 2025 Department of Energy Resource Adequacy Report warned that without intervention, the power grid cannot meet rising demand from manufacturing, re-industrialization, and data centers for artificial intelligence.The emergency order has sparked controversy in a related proceeding. On December 22, 2025, Public Citizen filed a motion to intervene and protest Morgan Stanley Capital Group Incorporateds application to renew authority to export electricity to Canada. Public Citizen argues that the Secretarys emergency finding proves exports would impair domestic supply sufficiency, violating Section 202e of the Federal Power Act. The group highlights Morgan Stanleys control over 2800 megawatts of generation capacity in the affected region through long-term agreements, plus additional ownership and export rights.This is part of a pattern of recent emergency actions. On November 25, 2025, the Secretary issued order 202-25-10 to keep natural gas units at Constellation Energys Eddystone plant operating in the PJM region. On November 18, another order extended operations at Consumer Energys J H Campbell coal plant in Michigan under the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.These moves underscore urgent efforts to bolster reliability amid growing demand and retiring plants, as detailed in Department of Energy orders.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on December 22 a 90-day pause on five offshore wind projects along the East Coast. The Department of Interior cited classified national security risks identified by Department of Defense officials, including radar interference from turbine blades and towers near population centers from Massachusetts to Virginia. According to the Department of Interior press release, the move addresses emerging threats from evolving adversary technologies and vulnerabilities posed by these large-scale developments.The affected projects include Dominion Energys 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, which is over two-thirds complete and set for 2026 service; Avangrids Vineyard Wind 1 off Massachusetts, already generating power; Orsteds Revolution Wind off Rhode Island; and Sunrise Wind and Equinors Empire Wind, both off New York. S and P Global reports that Burgum called them expensive, unreliable, heavily subsidized offshore wind farms in a social media post.Industry groups and developers pushed back strongly. Dominion Energy stated the pause threatens grid reliability for Virginia military bases, data centers, and jobs, warning of energy inflation. Oceantic Network CEO Liz Burdock said it contradicts years of Defense Department reviews, potentially delaying nearly 6 gigawatts of power amid rising electricity demand. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called it an erratic move that will raise prices, while Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine decried risks to investments and veteran-heavy jobs.Former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee labeled it reckless, stressing the need for all energy sources to support data centers and reliability. ISO New England noted Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind are key for winter power when other supplies are tight.The pause follows court rulings vacating prior halts, with critics like ClearView Energy Partners suggesting its timing as a counter to judicial setbacks. The Department of Interior said the pause allows time to mitigate risks with leaseholders and states.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out Quiet Please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI