Peace Garden News

This week, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak met with top energy leaders to discuss crucial challenges concerning America's power grid. The discussions addressed the urgent need for more reliable and affordable energy to accommodate increasing demand.

"Our electric grid is at a crossroads, and I appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from the leaders who manage these systems every day," stated Fedorchak. She emphasized the importance of leadership in maintaining grid functionality during an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.

Fedorchak engaged in discussions with executives like Manu Asthana from PJM, Gordon van Welie from ISO New England, Jennifer Curran from Midcontinent ISO, Lanny Nickell from Southwest Power Pool, Elliot Mainzer from California ISO, and Pablo Vegas from ERCOT.

Asthana raised concerns about the reliability risks posed by retiring coal, oil, and gas generators too quickly. Van Welie pointed out New England's pipeline constraints, which compel the region to depend on costly foreign gas imports. Curran and Nickell addressed the necessity of updating accreditation and interconnection rules to prioritize grid stability. Mainzer noted the market structures in the West and the significance of shared transmission solutions, while Vegas highlighted ERCOT’s strategy to integrate generators into the grid efficiently.

The discussions were held alongside a hearing by the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, titled "Keeping the Lights On: Examining the State of Regional Grid Reliability," where Fedorchak pushed for strategies to strengthen American energy security and support AI advancements.

"North Dakotans understand that a reliable, affordable energy supply is essential—whether it’s keeping the lights on for families, powering farms, or supporting economic growth," she remarked, emphasizing policy changes to promote investment in core power generation, remove regulation hurdles, and ease Washington's role in power delivery.