Oil fired plants support New England electricity during extreme winter demand
Petroleum plays a very small role in overall United States electricity generation, accounting for less than 1% of utility scale power. However, its importance rises sharply in certain regions during extreme weather events.
New England is one such region, especially during harsh winter periods when electricity demand increases, and other fuel supplies become limited.
During Winter Storm Fern, which brought severe colds to New England, petroleum became the leading energy source for electricity generation. Starting around midday on January 24, oil fired power units supplied most of the region’s electricity needs. This reliance continued until the early morning hours of January 26. After the storm eased, petroleum and natural gas continued to alternate as the main sources of power generation.
New England’s total electricity generating capacity is about 35.5 gigawatts, which represents only 3% of total United States capacity. Despite this small share, the region holds about 20% of the nation’s petroleum-fired generating capacity. This unique fuel mix reflects the region’s need for backup energy options during periods of high demand.
Most of New England’s petroleum capacity comes from residual oil-fired boilers, which account for nearly 60%, or about 3.2 gigawatts. The remaining capacity comes from combustion turbine generators that mainly use distillate fuel oil. These units are designed to respond quickly when other energy sources are constrained.
During the peak of Winter Storm Fern, petroleum fired generation in New England reached nearly 8 gigawatts. This level exceeded the capacity of plants that normally run on petroleum alone. The increase showed that fuel switching units also played an important role. About 41% of the region’s natural gas fired capacity can switch to burning distillate fuel oil.
Power plant operators often switch fuels when natural gas becomes too expensive or unavailable. In winter, natural gas supplies are frequently prioritized for home heating. When this happens, oil fired generation becomes a critical backup, helping maintain reliable electricity during extreme cold events and protecting the stability of the regional power grid.