Wayne Winegarden pushes coal, gas and nuclear for grid reliability

By AI, Created 4:25 PM UTC, May 22, 2026, /AGP/ – Pacific Research Institute senior fellow Wayne Winegarden argued on the Powering America Podcast that U.S. energy policy must keep coal, natural gas and nuclear in the mix to preserve affordable, reliable electricity. He also pointed to California prices and rising demand from AI and data centers as reasons policymakers should focus on dispatchable power.

Why it matters: - Wayne Winegarden said the U.S. needs affordable, reliable electricity to support prosperity and economic growth. - The debate matters because grid reliability is becoming more strained as electricity demand rises from AI, manufacturing growth and data centers. - Winegarden argued that energy policy must balance affordability, reliability and emissions cuts.

What happened: - Pacific Research Institute senior fellow Wayne Winegarden appeared on the Powering America Podcast. - Winegarden said the United States must continue relying on coal, natural gas and nuclear energy to keep the power grid reliable and affordable. - Winegarden serves as senior fellow in business and economics and director of the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the Pacific Research Institute. - The interview covered energy affordability, California energy policy, grid reliability and rising electricity demand tied to new technologies and growth. - Listen to the full episode

The details: - Winegarden said renewable sources such as wind and solar cannot yet fully replace dispatchable power needed to stabilize the electric grid. - Dispatchable sources such as coal, natural gas and nuclear remain central to consistent electricity generation when renewable output fluctuates. - Winegarden pointed to California as an example of policy choices that can push up gasoline and electricity prices. - Winegarden said California drivers would welcome $4.30 gasoline and noted the state is above $6. - Winegarden said nuclear power remains an important low-carbon source because it can provide consistent baseload electricity. - The Powering America Podcast interviews policymakers, economists, business leaders and energy experts on infrastructure, energy policy, manufacturing, economic development and grid reliability. - Winegarden has written extensively on economic policy, healthcare economics and energy affordability through his work at the Pacific Research Institute.

Between the lines: - Winegarden’s argument reflects a broader energy-policy split between rapid decarbonization and preserving firm generation that can run when wind and solar output falls. - His comments suggest policymakers may face pressure to prioritize reliability and price stability as power demand expands faster than some grid resources. - The California example underscores how energy policy debates are increasingly tied to consumer costs, not just emissions targets.

What’s next: - Policymakers and grid planners are likely to face continued scrutiny over how to meet growing electricity demand without raising costs or weakening reliability. - The role of nuclear, natural gas and other dispatchable resources will remain central in future energy policy debates. - More attention is likely to fall on how AI infrastructure and data center expansion affect long-term power demand.