ICYMI: The Grid System Isn’t Prepped For the Next Storm

NYT: Grid Reliability is “Worsening” Across the US

WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of severe winter storms across the United States, new reporting from the New York Times revealed the electric grids powering most North American households are becoming less reliable over time. The report sparks concerns that as the instances of climate disasters continue to increase, American families will be left with less consistent electricity.

Read more below. 

The New York Times: Grids Are Surviving the Storm. But the Next 5 Years Could Be Rough.

The reliability of the electric grids that power the United States and Canada is “worsening” and tens of millions of people face a growing risk of blackouts over the next five years, according to a group that monitors most of North America’s electricity system…

In the worst-case scenario, a shortage of power could mean life-threatening blackouts during an intense heat wave or cold snap when the grid is particularly strained.

The most severe example recently came during a massive winter storm in Texas in 2021. The state’s grid, which is unusual in that it is largely isolated from grids in the rest of the country, suffered weather-related breakdowns and lacked sufficient power to meet soaring demand during the cold and suffered extensive blackouts. More than 200 people died during the storm…

While the vast majority of smaller blackouts happen because of problems on local power lines — such as falling trees or ice — the report focuses on threats to the so-called bulk power system, assessing whether parts of the country might not have sufficient supplies of power to meet periods of peak demand, a situation that can create more widespread problems.

Over the next five years, solar power and batteries are expected to make up most of the new electric generation coming online, while more coal and gas plants are expected to be closed.

That would “increase the complexity of planning and operating a reliable grid,” the report said, because a growing share of generation won’t be able to run at all hours, risking a shortfall when electricity is needed most.
Peak electricity demand during summers and winters is also expected to increase more than 20 percent nationwide between now and 2035, the report said, because of a projected rise in demand from data centers for artificial intelligence, new factories, electric vehicles and electric heat pumps. At the same time, more severe heat waves exacerbated by global warming or unusual cold snaps can put heavy strain on the grid.

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