Conservative think tanks pitch ditching solar and wind

BOSTON (WWLP) – A group of conservative think tanks and watchdog groups held a news conference on Tuesday, highlighting a new report suggesting that New England could save hundreds of billions of dollars by switching from wind and solar power back to nuclear and natural gas.

The findings, presented by Always on Energy Research, indicate that the region’s renewable energy costs could reach $815 billion by 2050. The report outlines that nuclear energy could reduce costs by $399.5 billion and natural gas by $708 billion when compared to the projected expenses of renewable energy projects.

“The report released today is unfortunately more deeply flawed analysis presenting a highly distorted and unrealistic view of New England’s grid and energy systems,” said Kyle Murray, Acadia Center’s Director of State Program Implementation and Massachusetts Program Director. “It is the same nonsense we have seen time and time again. The numbers are fictious. It’s magical thinking, completely at odds with reality. No serious grid planning or even modeling exercise would put all power generation eggs in just one or two baskets. Any low cost grid mix is going to include a portfolio of many resource categories, and we know that renewables are poised to anchor the most cost-effective portfolio for the region. Further, across the country, and in the Northeast, states with higher natural gas penetration have higher electricity rates – whereas states that have added more renewables have seen smaller electric rate hikes over the past two-plus decades.”

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