Heinrich To Participate In Hearing On Energy Grid Resiliency, After Devastating Power Shortages Wreak Havoc Across Texas

WASHINGTON – Today, Thursday, March 11, at 8 a.m. MT/ 10 a.m. ET, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will participate in a hearing to examine the reliability, resiliency, and affordability of electric service in the U.S. amid the changing energy mix and extreme weather events.

Senator Heinrich has been critical of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) transmission isolation that led to recent power shortages across Texas after the state was devastated by a severe winter storm. Senator Heinrich is calling for expanded power markets to reduce costs for consumers, boosts in transmission capacity, and the use of advanced smart grid technologies to maintain economical, secure, and reliable energy grids.

The hearing’s witness panel includes: James R. Robb, President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation; Mark A. Gabriel, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Area Power Administration; Pat Wood III, Chief Executive Officer of Hunt Energy Network; Michael Shellenberger, founder of Environmental Progress; and Manu Asthana, President and Chief Executive Officer of PJM Interconnection.

A livestream of the hearing will be available here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Thursday, March 11, 2021

WHO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), full witness list here

WHAT: Heinrich To Participate In Hearing On Energy Grid Resiliency

WHEN: Today, Thursday, March 11, at 8 a.m. MT/ 10 a.m. ET

LIVESTREAM: www.energy.senate.gov