Tomasz Sienicki
Last week we saw the future of clean energy begin to unfold in Appalachia. Two of the East Coast’s largest power producers announced that investing in wind and solar energy is the most affordable way for them to comply with the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the proposed first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants.
Dominion, which provides energy to states across the East Coast and the Midwest, announced yesterday that after examining many options to address the expected reductions in carbon pollution required by the CPP, they have concluded that the most cost-effective solution is to invest in nearly 4,000 MW of solar energy by 2030, while retiring coal plants across Virginia. Solar beat out nuclear and natural gas co-firing, demonstrating clearly that clean energy sources are now cheaper than dirty and dangerous options. Just six years ago Dominion’s plans included no coal retirements, no wind, and no solar.
While these solar cost projections mark significant progress, Dominion’s resistance to renewable energy remains an obstacle. Their estimate for the cost of wind is many times higher than one provided by Appalachian Power Company (ApCo), a subsidiary of energy giant AEP, the very same day. For ApCo, investing in 1,350 MW of wind by 2030 is the least-cost path forward. Regardless, the message is clear: even in states where coal is mined, electric companies acknowledge that renewable energy options are the most affordable options for customers.
The Appalachian states are leading the way to a just transition from dirty, polluting coal energy to clean, affordable renewable sources. In June the 115 MW Portsmouth coal plant in Virginia retired, further highlighting coal’s economic decline in the face of cleaner, more affordable alternatives. Since 2008 mountaintop removal coal mining in Central Appalachia has been reduced by more than 60 percent. Investments in energy efficiency by major power producers Dominion, AEP, and FirstEnergy have more than doubled. And President Obama recently proposed needed funds to support economic diversification in the region as we transition our workforce away from dirty and dangerous coal mining and burning and toward good clean energy jobs.
When even former coal fans like Dominion and AEP are conceding that solar and wind energy are the most affordable options for energy generation, we know we’re on the right track. A clean energy future for our country is coming, and coming fast.