A new study has raised alarms about the potential for widespread blackouts resulting from the Biden administration’s proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. These rules, aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, are predicted to destabilize the U.S. electric grid, according to a report by the Center of the American Experiment.
Last August, four major electric grid operators warned that the new EPA regulations would undermine the reliability of the U.S. electric system. These operators highlighted the lack of a basic reliability analysis in the EPA's proposal, calling it a significant oversight.
For those saying there is no natural gas ban: NY, CA, WA, and MA all have natural gas bans in place and programs to phase out gas use (entirely) over the next decade. The Biden Admin is working through EPA to strengthen this mandate on a federal level, although it’s not easy. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/nhP9KWqjmx
— Chef Andrew Gruel (@ChefGruel) January 16, 2023
The report, which focused on the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO) grid, revealed that the proposed EPA rules would make the grid overly reliant on intermittent energy sources like wind and solar. The study found that during periods of low wind and solar output, the grid would face severe shortages, leading to extensive blackouts. The MISO grid serves 45 million people across several states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin.
One of the most concerning scenarios projected by the study involves a blackout affecting 20% of the grid, which could simultaneously plunge entire states into darkness during the harsh winter months. Such a situation mirrors the deadly Texas blackouts of 2021, where hundreds of people died due to the loss of power and heating.The study also criticized the EPA's modeling for not including enough natural gas peaking plants to replace the retiring coal plants, which would be necessary to meet the growing demand for electricity. The heavy dependence on weather-dependent renewable energy sources without adequate backup could lead to frequent and prolonged outages.
BLACKOUTS: Biden's EPA is paying power companies to take modern power generation plants offline to meet his CO2 targets regardless of whether or not there is enough capacity without them. Millions face the prospect of blackouts as a result.https://t.co/X2Oy822Em7
— @amuse (@amuse) June 13, 2024
Additionally, the economic implications of the new regulations are substantial. Complying with the EPA’s emissions reductions without causing blackouts would require significant investments in new infrastructure, including more wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage. The study estimates that these costs would amount to $246 billion through 2055, translating to an average annual increase of $683 in electricity bills for a typical family of four.
The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) also echoed these concerns in its Winter Reliability Assessment, warning that more than half of the U.S. is at an elevated risk of blackouts this winter due to increased demand and insufficient power generation capacity. NERC identified the Biden administration’s energy policies as a key threat to grid reliability, citing the premature closures of coal and gas-fired power plants and delays in building new infrastructure.
While the EPA argues that the new regulations are essential for tackling climate change and protecting public health, critics contend that the plan’s reliance on unproven technologies and unrealistic timelines poses a significant risk to the nation’s power grid. The NERC emphasized that the current federal energy policies are reckless and endanger the reliability and affordability of electricity for all Americans.
This debate underscores the broader conflict between advancing environmental goals and maintaining energy reliability, with significant implications for American consumers and the economy. As the administration pushes forward with its green agenda, the challenge will be to ensure that the lights stay on for millions of Americans.
