The nation’s electric grid is in trouble. Artificial intelligence, cryptomining, electric vehicles, and home heating and cooling needs are driving up the demand for energy at an alarming pace, writes Peter Behr. At the same time, poor planning means coal- and natural-gas-fired power plants are retiring faster than new solar and wind power can replace them. Officials in charge of running the grid say they worry the result will be widespread blackouts, especially during extreme weather events worsened by climate change. “What keeps me up at night is the winter of 2032,” said Richard Dewey, CEO of New York’s grid operator, at a conference sponsored by the Electric Power Supply Association. “It feels like that’s a long way away, but that’s like tomorrow.” The shift to clean power
President Joe Biden set a goal to zero out carbon emissions in the power sector by 2035, and he’s thrown billions of dollars behind that shift to clean energy technology. But in most cases, energy markets and distribution utilities haven’t been willing to pay a premium to accelerate the arrival of supplies of clean power, speakers at the conference said. Moving from a fossil-fueled grid to one powered by wind, solar, battery storage and other advanced energy technologies will also require more high-voltage transmission systems. Multiple analyses found that the amount of interregional transmission capacity would have to double or triple by 2035 to meet Biden’s goal. Those projects take years to build, require advanced planning and often face public pushback. Congressional efforts to streamline such projects have stalled amid partisan gridlock. “We are not on target to achieve a non-carbon grid in 11 years,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association. “It’s just the truth. Recognizing that we are not on track is the first step.”
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