US at ‘Elevated Risk’ of Summer Blackouts Due to Green Energy Push.

‘The system is closer to the edge,’ America’s grid reliability watchdog warns

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has warned that America’s increased reliance on green energy in favor of coal and gas has put two-thirds of North America at an “elevated risk” of summer power blackouts. NERC’s 2023 summer reliability assessment found that green alternatives such as wind and solar rely on favorable weather conditions to operate at full capacity, and if those conditions aren’t met, power demand can outpace supply. “The system is closer to the edge,” said NERC director of reliability assessment and performance analysis John Moura.

Experts sound the alarm on America’s unreliable power grid

Both state and federal officials have warned that high summer temperatures, combined with low nightly winds, could bring power blackouts across the country. Despite those warnings, President Joe Biden has moved forward with plans to accelerate U.S. coal plant retirements. With nearly half of America’s coal power already set to disappear by 2030, Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency unveiled new standards that force coal and gas power plants to slash their carbon emissions by a whopping 90 percent between 2035 and 2040.

Electric car use could put strain on the nation’s power grid

Biden has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks and subsidies aimed at increasing electric car use. As more Americans plug in their cars instead of filling them up with gasoline, grids across the country will need to put out more power to keep up. The issue has already plagued some U.S. states. Still, state officials are moving full steam ahead with plans to outlaw gas-powered vehicles and eradicate fossil fuel power plants.

• Coal is more than five times as dependable as wind and more than twice as dependable as solar when electricity demand is greatest, according to America’s Power CEO Michelle Bloodworth.
• Bad public policy and EPA regulations are forcing the closure of coal plants.
• The fear of power blackouts is not a reason to slow down from what we know is morally and societally what we need to do, said California Energy Commission vice chair Siva Gunda.