Moniz, Cantwell Release Quadrennial Energy Report

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) recently released the second installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER).

The QER 1.2 examines the United State’s electricity system, identifies challenges, and recommends improvements to the grid.

“It’s so important that the Department of Energy took the lead in doing the QER and summating what are the energy needs of our nation and a plan for us to implement policy,” Cantwell said. “Congress should hurry and implement elements of the Quadrennial Energy Review.”

The report recommends strategies for enhancing how energy is generated, distributed and stored. The QER also proposes increased federal support to help states in evaluating and incorporating energy efficiency, demand response, distributed storage and distributed generation into resource planning.

The QER identifies ways to prevent and respond to physical and cyber attacks against the grid as well. It advocates amending Federal Power Act authorities to ensure that protecting the electricity system is a central federal duty and allowing confidential information collection to inform the president about possible threats.

“The new QER, like its predecessor, is a well-documented, thoughtful look at energy policy and what we have come to expect from Secretary Moniz,” Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) said. “He will be missed and this makes clear that his successor will have big shoes to fill.”

President Obama instructed his administration to conduct the report in 2014. The initial installment was released in April 2015.