Peace Garden News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) recently addressed the House of Representatives, advocating for the phase-out of taxpayer-funded subsidies for wind and solar energy. She emphasized the need to prioritize grid security and eliminate incentives that, she argues, distort energy markets by favoring weather-dependent resources over more reliable power sources.

Fedorchak introduced the Ending Intermittent Energy Subsidies Act, which aims to gradually end production and investment tax credits for wind and solar energy within five years. Before her tenure in Congress, Fedorchak served as a utility regulator in North Dakota and worked extensively on MISO energy markets.

In her speech, Fedorchak outlined ten reasons for eliminating these subsidies. She stated that the cost to taxpayers is projected to reach $900 billion over the next decade. She also noted concerns about grid stability, with two-thirds of the country at risk of insufficient power supply. According to Fedorchak, "grid operators are asking for dispatchable resources—such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear."

She pointed out that 95 percent of projects awaiting grid connection in the U.S. are wind and solar due to generous subsidies rather than market demand. Fedorchak argued that removing these incentives would allow private investments to support technologies better aligned with grid needs.

Additionally, she highlighted that wind and solar are now mature technologies with reduced costs and increased efficiency. The cost of solar has decreased significantly since 2010, making it feasible for these industries to continue growing without subsidies.

Fedorchak concluded by asserting that eliminating these subsidies aligns with an all-of-the-above energy strategy and promotes competition among energy sources.

For further details on her proposal or her collaboration with Sen. Cramer (R-ND) regarding federal energy tax credits reform, additional resources are available online.