Tag: power grid

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Orders Study on Security of North American Power Grid

Weeks after gunfire damaged two substations that led to widespread outages in Moore County, North Carolina, a federal commission has ordered an Atlanta-based nonprofit corporation to evaluate the physical security of what some have called the “Achilles heel” of North American infrastructure: the Bulk Power System (BPS). The BPS encompasses four major electric system networks…


Americans Facing Elevated Winter Power Outage Risks From Tight Fuel Supplies and a Faltering Grid

As the snow flies and temperatures plummet, regulatory agencies and analysts alike warn that residents in multiple states are at an elevated risk of dangerous winter blackouts. Areas like Texas, the Great Lakes region, New England, and North Carolina, are in the highest risk category, according to a report from the North American Electric Reliability…


National Grid Asks Two Coal Plants to Fire up Amid Britain’s Big Freeze

Britain’s electricity grid operator has asked two of its coal-fired power stations to start warming up as freezing weather conditions heap pressure on the UK’s power network. National Grid said it had asked the winter “contingency” plants to prepare for operation to “give the public confidence in Monday’s energy supply”. It said the move means…


Texas Grid Expected to Meet Winter Demands This Year, Officials Say

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said it expects the state’s power grid will meet demands assuming typical winter conditions. ERCOT’s forecast peak demand is 67,398 megawatts (MW) during the winter season of December 2022 through February 2023, according to its Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy report released on Tuesday (pdf). The estimate is based…


A Surprising Threat to the US Power Grid Could Plunge the Country Into Darkness

Commentary The importance of a strong power grid cannot be emphasized enough. Often, when a grid fails, the results are terrifying. Of all the major power grids in the world, the United States’ is one of the more vulnerable to attack. State-sponsored hackers from the likes of Iran, Russia, and, unsurprisingly, China pose a real…


US Power Grid Needs Trillions in Upgrades to Accommodate Renewable Energy Demands

In August, California announced the end of fossil fuel-powered car sales by 2035, prompting green energy advocates to celebrate. However, flex alerts followed the announcement just days later, asking Golden State residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles during peak hours. Lack of compliance with the measure meant widespread blackouts due to the additional strain…


Biden Administration ‘Full Steam Ahead’ With Electric Vehicle Integration Despite Potential Issues

Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, there’s more than $60 billion available for grid transportation investment. Plus, $5 billion is earmarked for state grants to help establish high-capacity charging stations on every highway in the United States, and an additional $2 billion for community charging. The hope, according to Alex Schroeder, executive lead…


Will Mass Electric Vehicle Adoption Impact the Power Grid?

In January 2021, the Biden administration announced its plans to transition the United States to 100 percent “clean” electricity by 2035 and to have half of all vehicles sold be zero-emissions vehicles by 2030. One hundred percent clean energy by 2035 is an ambitious goal, and adding a considerable amount of electric vehicles (EV) to…


How Mass Electric Vehicle Adoption Will Impact the Power Grid

In January 2021, the Biden administration announced its plans to transition the United States to 100 percent “clean” electricity by 2035 and to have half of all vehicles sold be zero-emissions vehicles by 2030. One hundred percent clean energy by 2035 is an ambitious goal, and adding a considerable amount of electric vehicles (EV) to…


Texas Lawmaker Appeals for Elon Musk’s Help to Stabilize Power Grid

Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas) on June 28 requested Elon Musk to help support America’s energy grid. The appeal was made in a letter to the Tesla CEO in light of the consumption upsurge of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States, The Daily Caller News Foundation revealed in a report on June 28. Nehls…