EPA, DOE sign agreement to advance clean energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working together to advance clean energy opportunities.

This memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Interagency Communication and Consultation on Electric Reliability, signed by DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm and EPA Administrator Michael Regan, seeks to provide a framework for both agencies to unlock the reliability advantages of the growing clean energy economy.

“The clean energy transition is an amazing opportunity to add a diverse range of energy sources to our power systems, making them more resilient and reliable,” Granholm said. “I am proud that DOE and EPA are partnering together with industry and communities to help equip the grid to deliver affordable, clean electricity to all Americans.”

The new MOU comes as President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act provided unprecedented support for American infrastructure. It also builds upon longstanding engagement from DOE and EPA with the power sector and further commits them to routine communication about policies, programs, and activities regarding electric reliability.

“A reliable electric power system is essential to our national security, continued economic growth, and the protection of public health. That’s why DOE and EPA are uniting our longstanding efforts to ensure a robust and resilient system, especially as the power sector accelerates the transition to low- and zero-carbon energy sources,” Regan said. “Under this partnership with DOE, we will provide needed regulatory certainty and support grid reliability and resiliency at every stage as the agency advances efforts to reduce pollution, protect public health, and deliver environmental and economic benefits for all.”

Both agencies have designated a team of experts on electric reliability to serve as points of contact for routine communications across the agencies.

“EEI and our member electric companies are focused on affordability and reliability as we work to get the energy we provide to customers as clean as we can as fast as we can,” Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President Tom Kuhn said. “Both the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are critical partners in these efforts, and we applaud increased coordination to support the ongoing clean energy transition that electric companies are leading.”

Further, the agencies will meet at least semiannually to provide updates about policies, programs, and activities pertaining to electric reliability. They will also share information and analysis and discuss ongoing monitoring and outreach activities.

“As we have seen in recent years, the reliability of the electric grid is tied directly to the safety and well-being of our communities,” National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Executive Director Greg White said. “Maintaining electricity system reliability during the transition to cleaner energy is critical to NARUC’s members and is in everyone’s best interest. As such, we applaud the DOE and EPA for taking this initiative.”

In summary, the MOU ensures that the DOE and EPA can continue to support the ability of the power sector to maintain electric reliability and seize new reliability opportunities presented by clean energy advancement.