Perry: Emergency order for coal, nukes is 'exactly what has to happen'

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry told a House committee hearing on Thursday his agency is likely to take some action to keep retiring coal and nuclear plants online, though he stopped short from committing to a particular policy.  When a House member called on Perry to "use whatever legal power you have" to save at-risk generators, Perry said that is "exactly what has to happen." Allowing the plants to retire could threaten national security, the DOE head said. Perry's comments come two weeks after utility FirstEnergy asked DOE to invoke emergency cost supports for coal and nuclear plants in the PJM Interconnection under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. Perry said on Monday that a 202(c) order may not be the "most appropriate" way to address plant retirements and on Wednesday released an unofficial request for comment on that section of the statute