Peace Garden News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota addressed the House Floor on February 14, 2025, highlighting concerns about America's energy reliability. She emphasized that two-thirds of the country faces potential power shortages and proposed five solutions to address grid reliability.

During her speech, Fedorchak painted a vivid picture of the consequences of power outages, particularly in cold regions like North Dakota. She stated, "People’s livelihoods would be at risk," highlighting the impact on essential services and the economy.

Fedorchak pointed to a report by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which warns that a significant portion of the United States is at an elevated risk of blackouts. According to her, this is largely due to retiring power plants faster than they are replaced. "It really comes down to one thing: We are retiring power plants faster than we’re replacing them," she explained.

To address these challenges, Fedorchak proposed regulatory relief by repealing certain federal regulations that she claims burden energy producers. She also suggested reevaluating federal incentives for energy production to ensure a balanced energy market.

Furthermore, she advocated for speeding up the permitting process for new energy projects and implementing rules that protect grid reliability. Lastly, she stressed understanding the growing energy demands driven by AI and other technologies.

Fedorchak concluded with a call for bipartisan cooperation on this issue, stating, "Grid reliability is not a partisan issue. It’s an American issue."