Perry stirs gas versus coal fight
US energy secretary's subsidy plan gets a roasting
The US' natural gas producers have protested strongly against Rick Perry's proposed Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule, to help prop up struggling coal and nuclear power plants. The rule, which Perry has urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) to implement, would subsidise any power plant with stores of 90 days of fuel on site, ostensibly to bolster the reliability of North America's power grid. Since gas-fired plants rely on supply piped in as needed, and the wind and sun can't be stored, the benefits from the proposed rule would flow to coal and nuclear plants. It is the latest manoeuver in the Trump administration's fight to prop up America's coal industry. In the past 10 years, c

Also in this section
1 April 2025
There is method to the US president’s apparent madness, and those seeking to understand need look no further than their local bookshop
1 April 2025
Strong economic growth targets are encouraging for the country’s energy demand growth, even if meeting those goals might be a tall order
28 March 2025
The Central Asian country is positioning itself as a low-carbon leader, but antiquated infrastructure and a dependence on Russia are holding it back
28 March 2025
MCEDD 2025 took place in Madrid this week with record attendance and a wide-ranging programme, reflecting the deepwater sector’s renewed momentum, strategic focus and accelerating technological innovation.