Keeping the lights on: the case for a balanced energy mix

At Darke Rural Electric Cooperative, everything we do starts with our commitment to you — our members. That commitment centers around one foundational promise: delivering electricity that is safe, affordable, and reliable.

Our lineworkers work tirelessly — day and night, in sunshine and storms — to make sure the power stays on. But reliability doesn’t stop at our poles and wires. It depends on a broader energy system that must be balanced, resilient, and built with common sense.

Across the country, the energy landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade. We’ve seen coal generation decline and renewables like wind and solar grow. While that growth brings benefits, it also brings challenges. Solar and wind are valuable pieces of the puzzle, but they can’t do it all. They depend on weather and, as we know here in Ohio, weather can be unpredictable.

That’s why we believe in a diverse mix of energy sources — not just for the sake of variety, but because true reliability depends on it. Dispatchable sources like natural gas, coal, and nuclear can step in when renewables can’t, on windless nights, on cloudy days, or during extreme cold or heat, when demand soars.

Natural gas is especially important right now. It’s affordable, flexible, quick to respond, and bridges the gap when renewables fall short. It also supports the growing use of battery storage, which is showing promise but isn’t yet ready to carry the full load on its own.

Our mission isn’t about choosing one source over another. It’s about ensuring you have power when you need it most. That’s why we’re advocating for energy policies that reflect common sense and find common ground. We need to protect the reliability of our grid, not jeopardize it with short-sighted decisions or rushed transitions.

Let’s work toward an energy future that includes all tools available — renewables, natural gas, nuclear, and coal where needed. Because when all options are on the table, we can better adapt, respond, and keep your lights on.

As your cooperative, we will continue to be your voice and your advocate for reliability, for affordability, and for the safe energy our communities depend on.

Want to support commonsense energy policy that puts reliability first? Join Voices for Cooperative Power, a nationwide network of electric co-op members working to protect safe, affordable, and dependable electricity.

Your voice matters — especially when it comes to keeping the lights on.

Joining Voices for Cooperative Power is easy, free, and impactful. Click here to learn more and get involved.