Blackouts May Be Stopped By Renewables
There have been a number of major blackouts in the US recently because of an overloaded electric grid or accidents. The most famous were in New York City in 1977 and 2003. There have been hundreds of others, and sometimes utilities shut service themselves if they worry about overloads.
America seems to get hotter every summer. This means that the use of air conditioners rises. That, in turn, stresses the grid and supplies further. And, much more recently, AI data centers have become major users of electricity. This is growing rapidly.
New York City Blackouts
One bright spot in the energy shortage problem is that renewables are coming online fast enough in some areas to ease spikes in demand. Semafor reports, “But solar panels, batteries, and virtual power plant technology have proven to be critical in keeping up the supply of power for air conditioners, and may have saved households in New England up to $20 million on their bills.” Cuts in funding by the Trump administration may eventually hamper some of this growth. However, if utilities face enough demand, they will put their own money on the table.
The day when renewables will generate most of America’s electricity is years away. In the meantime, many utilities without them would be in trouble.
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