U.S. energy demand is expected to grow sharply in 2025 and beyond, due to the emergence and critical scale-up necessary for machine learning and artificial intelligence programs and the expansion of data centers to handle massive quantities of information, but the retirement of fossil energy plants poses challenges for grid reliability and resilience, particularly during peak demand. Many fossil fuel plants are being retired due to economic factors, with nearly 30% of coal-fired generation expected to close by 2035.  

The Southern States Energy Board’s Fossil Energy Policies and Technologies Committee is a unique, coordinated regional effort between government and the energy industry. It brings together governor’s offices, state legislatures, regulators, energy offices, DOE Management, and our federal representative alongside utilities, fossil fuel companies, pipelines, and CCUS technology developers.

The committee’s mission is to enhance understanding and input from both the public and private sectors on the role of fossil energy in an increasingly complex and evolving energy marketplace.

For example, legislation can embrace or reject opportunities for state planning and resource development in the use of fossil energy plants or products, spur new investments in fossil energy power generation, production, use, and innovative technologies, or choose to venture into alternative energy resources and technologies. Fossil energy only will be sustainable in the future if a concerted effort is made to shape the innovative technologies that enhance its use while protecting the environment. 

Southern states lead the nation in the development and production of oil and natural gas resources and technologies. As U.S. Energy Dominance increases, the opportunities to expand use and export fuels multiplies. An essential ally in the production of fossil fuels is carbon dioxide (CO₂). Oil and gas production and development are mightily boosted when CO₂ is utilized in enhanced hydrocarbon recovery. The technologies exist to capture CO₂ at fossil energy plants. In addition, through direct air capture, CO₂ can be recovered from ambient emissions at steel, cement, petrochemical and fertilizer plants, refineries and other heavy industry operations. It has been estimated that over 20 billion barrels of recoverable oil could be lost if CO₂ is not full scale deployed for enhanced oil recovery in the future. 

SSEB annually publishes an overview of fossil energy-related legislation in the United States coinciding with our annual meeting. View the latest edition here.

The Committee is cooperatively funded through a grant with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and contributions by project partners and members.