A diverse fuel mix is essential for reliable power
June 2025
Our electric grid is most reliable when a wide range of technologies is available.
by Michael Leitman, Contributing Writer
Providing its members with safe, reliable and affordable power is the mantra for electric cooperatives nationwide. Cooperative members can see the work necessary to maintain reliable electricity at the local level, such as co-op lineworkers maintaining utility poles and wires and repairing them after major storms. A diverse mix of power generation resources, transmission lines and pipeline infrastructure is essential for maintaining reliable electricity at regional and national levels.
The U.S. electric grid has undergone major changes over the last decade. The share of electricity generated from coal plants has declined, while the share from natural gas, intermittent wind and solar generation has grown. Fuel diversity means that your electricity is supplied by a variety of generation technologies, each with its own characteristics and performance capabilities over different weather and seasonal conditions.
Dispatchable technologies can be turned on and off as needed. Large steam generation plants are generally considered “baseload,” meaning that they are designed to run efficiently 24-7 to serve as the base of the electricity mix. However, steam plants are less capable of ramping output up or down to meet the various peaks and dips as grid conditions change.
Natural gas is arguably the most versatile fuel, powering large combined-cycle plants that can operate as baseload but are also more flexible ramping up and down. These capabilities are essential for meeting demand on the hottest and coldest days, and for balancing intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.
Most hydroelectric power comes from generators inside large dams, which can be dispatched when needed — as long as enough water is available.
The U.S. electric grid has undergone major changes over the last decade.
Over the last decade, the share of electricity generated from wind and solar plants has increased dramatically. The production patterns of solar and wind technologies are complementary to one another. Solar generates during the day and wind tends to generate more at night.
While battery energy storage technology is growing rapidly to allow some control of when renewable energy sources can be dispatched, natural gas plants remain the primary method for “firming” renewable generation resources.
Ultimately, the collective electric grid is most reliable when a wide range of technologies is available. When conditions lead to lower generation from one source type, others can help compensate. When there is an imbalance, such as a significant winter storm when electricity use skyrockets, grid operators are forced to purposefully reduce demand to keep the grid operating.
While there is variation across regions in what types of power plants can be built based on weather and infrastructure, America’s electric cooperatives work diligently to ensure a diverse and reliable power supply for the communities they serve.
Michael Leitman writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind only generate electricity when the sun shines or the wind blows.