White House backs strategic power reserve that could favor coal, nuclear units

摘要

The US electric grid could benefit from a voluntary electricitygeneration reserve that gives preference to nuclear and coal-firedunits, the White House said in a new report.President Donald Trump released his economic report to the USCongress Tuesday, together with an annual report by the White HouseCouncil of Economic Advisers.While touting the rise in US oil and natural gas production, thereport said "a number of energy policy issues remain salient," includingwith regard to electricity generation.Disruptive changes in the US power sector, including the rise ofnatural gas-based and renewable energy, can lead to the prematureretirement of some units running on nuclear power and coal, theadministration noted. It added that the resilience of the bulk powersystem was also at risk from severe weather events, cyberattacksand "other sources of interruption to fuel deliveries and ultimatelyelectricity."