EXCLUSIVE: 24 House Republicans outline how the Department of Energy can prioritize more baseload energy – Washington Reporter

Report on U.S. Congressional Proposal for Baseload Energy Prioritization

Executive Summary

A contingent of twenty-four members from the Republican Study Committee (RSC) has formally requested that the current administration prioritize the development and maintenance of baseload energy sources. Citing rising electricity demands from data centers and artificial intelligence (AI), the lawmakers advocate for an energy policy focused on reliability and national security. This report analyzes their proposal through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting areas of alignment and significant tension, particularly concerning energy, climate, and economic objectives.

Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The lawmakers’ proposal directly engages with the targets of SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

• Target 7.1 (Universal Access): The letter emphasizes the need to “keep the lights on for American families” and ensure a reliable grid, which aligns with the goal of universal access to reliable energy.
• Target 7.2 (Increase Renewable Energy): The proposal presents a direct challenge to this target. By urging the prioritization of coal and natural gas and cautioning against over-reliance on “weather-dependent, intermittent resources,” the lawmakers advocate for sources that are not renewable. They note that coal and natural gas plants constituted 91% of planned power generation retirements in 2024, a trend they seek to reverse.
• Target 7.A (Promote Clean Energy Investment): The call to allocate funding towards fossil fuel-based baseload generation conflicts with the global objective to promote investment in clean energy research and technology.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The proposal is framed around the necessity of building resilient infrastructure to support technological innovation, a core component of SDG 9.

• Target 9.1 (Develop Resilient Infrastructure): The primary argument is that a resilient grid with sufficient baseload capacity is essential for the “golden age of technological innovation,” specifically the growth of AI. This aligns with the goal of developing reliable and resilient infrastructure.
• Target 9.4 (Upgrade Infrastructure for Sustainability): A significant conflict arises with this target, which calls for upgrading infrastructure to make it sustainable and resource-efficient. The lawmakers’ focus on increasing capacity from coal and natural gas runs counter to the goal of adopting cleaner, environmentally sound technologies.

SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) & SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The letter links energy policy to economic prosperity and national security, touching upon SDG 8, while creating a direct conflict with the climate objectives of SDG 13.

1. Economic and National Security (SDG 8): The lawmakers contend that energy dominance is critical for economic growth and national security, warning that failure to meet energy demands could allow strategic adversaries to “win the AI arms race.” They also advocate for policies that support “American energy workers,” aligning with the goal of productive employment.
2. Climate Action (SDG 13): The proposal to “rapidly expand” generation from coal and natural gas is in direct opposition to SDG 13’s call for urgent action to combat climate change. The reliance on fossil fuels would undermine efforts to integrate climate change measures into national policies and planning. The letter expresses concern over the retirement of these carbon-intensive assets, a necessary step for achieving climate targets.

Conclusion and Proposed Actions

The letter from the RSC members outlines a clear policy preference that prioritizes energy grid reliability and economic competitiveness through the expansion of traditional baseload power sources. While this approach aligns with certain aspects of SDG 7 and SDG 9 related to energy access and infrastructure resilience, it fundamentally conflicts with the sustainability and clean energy targets central to the 2030 Agenda, most notably SDG 7.2 and the entirety of SDG 13.

Specific Recommendations to the Department of Energy

The lawmakers urged the Department of Energy to take the following actions:

1. Prioritize baseload energy generation sources in funding allocations and other authorities.
2. Exercise its authorities and programs to rapidly expand energy generation to meet rising electricity demand.
3. Ensure such actions align with broader objectives of strengthening domestic supply chains and supporting American energy workers.

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article is centered on energy policy, specifically focusing on ensuring a reliable and affordable electricity supply for the United States. It discusses the types of energy sources needed to power the grid, directly engaging with the core themes of SDG 7. However, the article’s advocacy for “baseload energy generation sources” like coal and natural gas stands in contrast to the “clean” aspect of this goal, which emphasizes renewable energy.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The lawmakers connect their energy policy proposals to economic objectives. They argue that a reliable energy supply is essential for “technological innovation and development,” particularly for data centers and AI, which are drivers of modern economic growth. The letter also mentions the goal of “supporting American energy workers,” linking the policy to job creation and decent work.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  A primary concern in the article is the quality and resilience of national infrastructure. The call for “strengthening America’s grid” and ensuring it is “resilient” to meet rising demand from technological innovation (AI, data centers) directly relates to the development of reliable and resilient infrastructure as outlined in SDG 9.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  While the article does not mention climate change, its strong advocacy for increasing the use of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas has direct and significant implications for climate action. The proposed policies run counter to the objectives of SDG 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change, including transitioning away from fossil fuels. Therefore, SDG 13 is highly relevant as the article’s recommendations would directly impact climate targets.

2. Specific Targets Identified

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. The article directly supports this target by emphasizing the need to “reliably and affordably meet electricity demand” and “keep the lights on for American families.”
  • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article’s content is in opposition to this target. It expresses skepticism about “weather-dependent, intermittent resources” (renewables) and advocates for prioritizing coal and natural gas, which would work against increasing the share of renewable energy.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article aligns with this target by arguing that increased energy capacity is crucial to “keep up with the rapid pace of technological innovation and development” and to “win the AI arms race,” framing energy as a prerequisite for economic growth through technology.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The call to create a “resilient grid and a reliable energy supply” by increasing “baseload energy capacity” directly addresses the goal of developing reliable and resilient infrastructure to support the nation’s economic and security needs.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The policies advocated in the article would contradict this target. Prioritizing and expanding coal and natural gas generation represents a move away from integrating climate change considerations into national energy policy.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Implied Indicator: Price of electricity for consumers. The article’s focus on “affordability issues” implies that the cost of energy is a key metric for success.
  • Implied Indicator: Reliability of the electricity supply (e.g., frequency/duration of outages). The goal to “keep the lights on” and avoid reliance on “intermittent resources” points to grid stability as a measure of progress.
  • Implied Indicator: Share of fossil fuels versus renewables in the energy generation mix. The statement that “Coal- and natural gas-fired power plants jointly accounted for 91 percent of planned retirements” and the call to reverse this trend directly relates to measuring the composition of the energy supply.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Implied Indicator: Number of jobs in the domestic energy sector. The objective of “supporting American energy workers” suggests that employment in this sector is a relevant indicator.
  • Implied Indicator: Growth of the digital economy. The “emerging power demands of data centers and artificial intelligence (AI)” is presented as a key driver, making the growth of these sectors an implied indicator of economic progress.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Mentioned Indicator: Baseload energy generation capacity. The letter explicitly urges the Department of Energy to “prioritize baseload energy generation sources” and “rapidly expand energy generation,” making this a direct, measurable indicator.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Implied Indicator: Greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector. By advocating for an expansion of coal and natural gas, the article implies a policy choice that would directly affect the level of national emissions, making this a critical, albeit unstated, indicator.

4. Summary Table

Source: washingtonreporter.news