Traditional energy sources made up the majority of the energy mix powering homes affected by a massive winter storm which hit the US this weekend, according to new data.
“As Winter Storm Fern pummeled much of the U.S., at least 18 people have died, more than 800,000 have been left without power and electricity costs have surged near data centers, according to multiple reports,” Audrey Streb of the Daily Caller News Foundation writes. Meanwhile, oil, gas and coal have been powering the majority of several American power grids as solar and wind generation declined amid the extreme weather conditions, according to data from multiple grid operators and the Energy Information Administration (EIA).”
Our very own Jason Issac also added his opinion in the story, arguing that traditional energy sources are pulling their weight during maximum demand for energy, and often can prove more reliable than other sources.
“On the coldest days of the year, slogans do not keep the lights on. Oil, natural gas, nuclear, and coal are doing the real work of powering homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure as bitter weather grips the country,” Isaac said. “While the UN celebrates ‘clean energy day,’ Americans are being protected by reliable, affordable fuels that work regardless of temperature, wind, or sunlight. Energy policy should be grounded in reality, not ideology.”
Monday also marks the “International Day for Clean Energy” as promulgated by the United Nations in 2023, Streb writes. So far, the storm has left at least 800,000 people without power and has contributed to a large surge in energy prices.
“The Trump administration has emphasized energy security dominance over climate change, with Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright issuing multiple emergency orders to keep coal plants running past their early retirement dates,” Streb wrote. “The DOE projected in July 2025 that if America continues to phase out reliable energy sources without adequately replacing them, blackouts could increase by a factor of 100 by 2030.
Wright has issued several more emergency orders ahead of and during the storm, for grids in Texas and across the East Coast. One of these orders directs PJM, the largest U.S. power grid that serves 13 states and D.C., to keep running power plants even beyond pollution limits until Jan. 31 for the sake of affordability and reliability.”
Read the full story in the Daily Caller.
