EPSA Submits Comments to DOE’s “Accelerating Speed to Power” RFI
As demand for electricity surges—driven by rapid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence, electrification, and renewed domestic manufacturing—the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched its Accelerating Speed to Power initiative to identify solutions that can help expand reliable generation capacity.
In comments submitted to DOE in response to its Request for Information (RFI), the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) outlines key steps to ensure that new investments meet the moment efficiently, protect consumers, and uphold reliability. EPSA’s recommendations emphasize the value of competitive wholesale electricity markets, accurate demand forecasting, and regulatory and trade reforms that enable private investment to move at the speed of innovation.
Key Takeaways
- Plan wisely before building: Accurate load forecasting is essential to determine how much new generation is truly needed—and to avoid overbuilding or creating stranded assets.
- Keep markets competitive: Competitive electricity markets harness private capital and innovation to meet demand efficiently, without burdening ratepayers with unnecessary costs.
- Encourage voluntary partnerships: Bilateral agreements between generators and large energy users, such as data centers, can accelerate infrastructure development while isolating ratepayers from financial risk.
- Modernize permitting and siting: Updating laws like NEPA and the Clean Air Act can speed project approvals without sacrificing environmental protections.
- Balance short- and long-term trade goals: Near-term flexibility in equipment imports can help meet immediate reliability needs while domestic manufacturing capacity scales up.
- Maintain regulatory stability: An independent, bipartisan FERC provides essential predictability for investors in long-lived energy infrastructure.
EPSA’s comments build on its ongoing advocacy for market-based solutions, streamlined permitting reform, and policies that attract private investment in reliable, cost-effective power generation. Ensuring that competitive markets can respond to new demand with efficiency and innovation is key to meeting the nation’s reliability and economic goals.
