Post by Erick Ford

https://lnkd.in/dDjcqzXi The U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to extend its emergency order keeping Colorado’s Craig Station Unit 1 available is another reminder that the energy transition must be balanced with one fundamental responsibility: keeping the lights on. Across the country, electricity demand is accelerating at a pace few predicted just a few years ago. Artificial intelligence, data centers, advanced manufacturing, electrification, and economic growth are driving record demand for reliable power. At the same time, many dispatchable generating resources have been retired faster than replacement infrastructure has been built. This isn’t a debate about one fuel source versus another. It’s a reminder that reliability must remain the foundation of every energy policy decision. The conversation has shifted from whether we need more generation to how quickly we can build it. That means expanding transmission, modernizing the grid, accelerating permitting, and investing in a diverse portfolio of resources—including nuclear, natural gas, energy storage, renewables, fuel cells, and other technologies that strengthen grid reliability. For states like New Jersey and the broader PJM region, these challenges are especially relevant. Growing demand and tightening reserve margins make it clear that planning for tomorrow’s energy needs cannot wait until reliability becomes a crisis. Affordable, reliable, and resilient electricity is the backbone of economic development. As policymakers, utilities, regulators, and industry leaders continue to make critical decisions, reliability should remain at the center of the discussion. What happens in Colorado is more than a regional story—it’s part of a national conversation about how we meet America’s growing energy needs while maintaining a dependable electric grid. #Energy #EnergyPolicy #GridReliability #ElectricGrid #PJM #NewJersey #NuclearEnergy #NaturalGas #Transmission #DataCenters #ArtificialIntelligence #Infrastructure #EconomicDevelopment