A recent Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) report underscores a crucial but often overlooked fact: achieving a reliable and affordable energy evolution means embracing a diverse energy mix, and natural gas is the key to making it work.
According to ITIF natural gas will play an essential role in supporting the growth of renewable energy like wind and solar by balancing out their inherent variability. ITIF wastes no time summarizing this important conclusion:
“Wind and solar power will replace consistently dispatchable electricity from fossil fuels with variable and more unpredictable clean energy. Seasonal shifts and annual variations cannot be handled… Natural gas will have to bridge the gap for many decades.” (emphasis added)
Why Natural Gas is Essential for Wind and Solar
ITIF’s report outlines how natural gas, wind, and solar can all drive emission reductions while ensuring energy reliability and affordability throughout the evolution of the future energy mix.
Wind and solar energy have been growing rapidly alongside natural gas. While natural gas still represents the majority of U.S. electricity generation – about 43 percent of the total generation in 2023 – over the last decade, the United States added more than 121 GW of solar capacity – an increase of 688 percent. Meanwhile, solar power generation skyrocketed by 723 percent, and wind power has more than doubled in the same period.
Despite wind and solar’s impressive growth, these sources are inherently more variable than traditional fuels. Without adequate battery storage, solar energy is useless at night and on cloudy days, and wind isn’t guaranteed to blow when needed. ITIF’s report highlights that “solar generation during the winter can drop to only 10 percent of summer production”, leveraging a glaring gap in energy availability. That’s where natural gas comes in, providing the stability needed to keep the grid reliable and affordable.
Natural gas offers the flexibility to quickly ramp up when wind and solar fall short and scale back when renewables are abundant. As ITIF notes, “the fastest and most efficient transition to variable renewable energy will likely require the increased use of gas at scale far into the future.”
Addressing Regulatory Gaps to Support an Affordable Transition
In addition to technological recommendations, ITIF also calls for stronger federal and regulatory frameworks to support the transition. The report suggests creating an “Office of Energy Variability”, under the U.S. Department of Energy to drive innovation in energy storage, grid management, and the integration of renewable energy technologies.
ITIF also highlights the need for improved energy modeling and expanded data collection, emphasizing the importance of regional variability in wind and solar production. As the energy landscape shifts, regulatory bodies must adapt to maintain investor confidence and ensure the smooth deployment of new energy resources. The report argues that DOE should lead efforts to address variability and support the growth of natural gas alongside renewables.
Bottom Line:
Without natural gas to provide a reliable backup, the U.S. grid will face serious challenges in delivering affordable and consistent energy. As the ITIF report makes clear, natural gas isn’t just a bridge—it’s a critical partner in building a cleaner, more resilient energy future. Failing to incorporate natural gas into the renewable energy buildout could result in an unreliable grid and higher costs for consumers.
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