Washington, Jan 30 (NationPress) President Donald Trump, alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright, emphasized that coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy were vital in safeguarding the US electricity grid amid a harsh cold wave, while they expressed disapproval of wind and solar power. Wright remarked in a cabinet meeting, “Your energy dominance agenda is firing on all cylinders.” He proclaimed, “The United States oil production today surpasses that of Saudi Arabia and Russia combined.”

Wright highlighted the essential role of coal during peak demand. “This remarkable, clean coal was the MVP during the extreme cold snap we’re experiencing right now,” he stated. “Coal over the past few days has generated 20 times more electricity than solar and batteries combined.”

Trump echoed the disparagement towards renewable sources. “The windmills, by the way, are all frozen, you know that, right?” he remarked. “They don’t function.”

Wright noted that renewable generation was negligible when demand peaked. “In New England, with somewhat European energy policies… wind, solar, and batteries… contributed less than 3 percent of the electricity required during peak demand,” he said.

He cautioned about the implications. “If the electricity goes out during extreme cold, lives are at stake,” Wright warned.

He compared the current storm to a previous one, stating, “Over 200 individuals perished in a smaller cold snap during the Biden administration.”

Wright indicated that coal production surged to fulfill demands. “Coal accounted for 25 percent of our electricity during this high-demand period,” he mentioned.

He stated that the administration had halted the closure of coal plants. “17 gigawatts of coal generation plants were scheduled for closure last year but were prevented from shutting down by this administration,” Wright affirmed.

Trump asserted the necessity of those plants. He said without them, “we would be in a critical energy shortage.”

Trump also discussed changes in powering large projects. He noted that some facilities are so massive that “the grid wouldn’t be able to accommodate them.” He added that developers can now establish their own power generation using “nuclear… oil and gas… coal… or whatever they prefer.”

The administration maintains that energy reliability and affordability are crucial for economic growth and national security.

Energy policy remains a contentious political issue, particularly during extreme weather events that challenge power systems and reveal weaknesses in generation and transmission.