Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Can the US rely on the electric grid? Some lawmakers say time is running out


{p}Central Maine Power utility lines are seen, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in Pownal, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File){/p}

Central Maine Power utility lines are seen, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in Pownal, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

In much of the country, summer has already arrived.

As usual, those hot temperatures bring the need for more power, especially air conditioning. But what’s unusual is some of the dire predictions from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC.

In a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing Thursday, the warnings came one after another, including from James Robb, president and CEO of NERC.

"The risk of energy shortfalls is increasing and spreading to more areas of the country," he warned.

The organization recently released a report, which included a map showing two thirds of the country at elevated risk for “insufficient operating reserves.” In other words, there is the potential of running low on resources including electricity.

The causes include an overwhelmed electric grid, the slowing use of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas to balance the use of the grid and new regulations like a lengthy permitting process that makes developing new energy take too long.

We need more homegrown energy, natural gas coal uranium, you name it, we need it all," said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, the ranking member on the committee.

The hearing comes as more and more Americans are expected to rely on electricity, even being rewarded by switching to electric cars.

“When electricity is unreliable the potential consequences are catastrophic including loss of human life," said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., the committee chairperson.

But a report from American Society of Civil Engineers says 92% of power outages are caused by three things: aging infrastructure, vandalism and the number one factor: severe weather.

"We’re talking about outages that are caused predominantly by severe weather which is a result of climate change," said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

In some parts of the country, experts say there’s too much power generation but not enough demand. With $3 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act to build new transmission lines, some say they’re optimistic about the future U.S. grid.

We have areas that are producing too much solar or too much wind at certain points, and we just don’t have not enough load or demand to use it so if we install more lines to pipe that power where it needs to go, the the grid’s just going to become more efficient," said Kyri Baker, an assistant engineering professor at University of Colorado Boulder.

The biggest issue appears to be the timeline, with Congress left to figure out how to fill in the gaps of phasing out coal and natural gas experts say will be needed for years to come. Additionally, it will need to oversee the building out of an electric grid already threatening to give out.

Loading ...