Hundreds of millions of Americans are at risk of power shortages this winter if weather conditions are severe, according to a new report from grid regulator North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). [emphasis, links added]
The NERC report states that nearly all residents in the Northeast, Texas and Midwest could face energy shortages if the winter is colder than normal.
The main reason for the lack of grid reliability is growing demand for electricity and the replacement of coal-fired and older natural gas generators with energy-limited resources such as solar.
“Foreseeable extreme cold temperatures are likely Promote existing gas supply infrastructure to maximum capacity,the report warned.
“As coal-fired and older natural gas generators are retired and phased out, serving winter loads becomes more challenging and complex. Replaced by variable and energy-limited resources.“
According to research from NERC, the expansion of power-hungry data centers will lead to a surge in power demand, and consulting firm Bain predicts Utilities may have to increase annual power generation by 26% by 2028.
Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration seeks to reduce natural gas and coal-fired power generation, finalizing a rule in April requiring Use carbon capture and storage to control 90% of carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants by 2032 If they want to continue running beyond 2039 Emissions from new natural gas plants to be reduced by 90% by 2032according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Grid operators have asked the EPA to repeal power plant rules to protect long-term energy reliabilityfour major regional carriers filed an amicus brief in support of Red State’s legal challenge to the rule, It said this would jeopardize the grid's ability to reliably meet U.S. energy needs.
Top grid regulator Mark Christie wrote a letter to lawmakers in August claiming EPA's rules could be “disastrous.”
Read the break from The Daily Caller
