The Department of Energy is considering lifting its moratorium on new coal-fired power plants for industries that want to use the fossil fuel for their own consumption.
DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the department is “evaluating” requests from companies such as manufacturing firms, seeking a cheap, off-grid energy source.
“There is a move that some companies are asking if it’s their own use. For example, if you have manufacturing and you want a cheap source of energy, not connected to the grid, there are requests for that, and we’re still evaluating that,” Garin said.
She said proposal has been under discussion since the previous administration of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.
“Because we are really pushing for renewable energy, and we’re trying to find also, we want to be fair, not just clean, but also affordable. So, that’s a dilemma that we have always,” Garin said.
The government is pushing for renewable energy but not abandoning baseload power plants, Garin said.
“More than coal, just because we are pushing for RE, doesn’t mean that we want to abandon baseload. Baseload can be coal, it can be gas, it can be hydro, geothermal,” she said.
“RE is a good source of energy, but it will not be enough,” said Garin, adding that nuclear power could also serve as baseload.
The DOE implemented the moratorium on new coal-fired power plants on Oct. 27, 2020 to support policies to improve energy sustainability, reliability and flexibility by increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.
The moratorium does not cover existing and operational coal-fired power plants, committed power projects, existing power plant complexes with firm expansion plans and land site provisions, or indicative power projects with substantial progress.
The DOE issues a certification upon request that a project is not covered by the moratorium.
