The big trick with natural gas, coal and oil energy is that if it exists but doesn't run, it doesn't produce much emissions. So, if you have medium amounts of

The big trick with natural gas, coal and oil energy is that if it exists but doesn't run, it doesn't produce much emissions. So, if you have medium amounts of solar and wind, it's fine keeping the gas plants in reserve and maybe having to use them on a particularly cold day once every other year. A gas plant is very cheap from investment perspective. From total emissions point of view it is also fine. (These exceptionally cold windless winter days are waved as examples of the unsuitability of wind and solar.) Of course if your gas pipes leak like crazy, maybe it's best to turn to decommission the plants and network.