Several recent papers have questioned traditional notions regarding baseload power requirements for the electric grid. To some the term base load tends to favor traditional power plants historically powered by coal or nuclear fuel sources. In acknowledging that there is always a minimum amount of power which needs to be available at any given time, critics must realize the basic premise that traditional power generating facilities will always be needed. While it is true that electric demand in the U.S. has fallen, electric reliability requires consideration of the minimum amount of power needed at any given time. Natural gas facilities can throttle up and down much more quickly than other types of power generation which means they can respond more efficiently (and more cheaply) to demand.

Source: Forbes July 27, 2017 15:45 UTC