A summer blackout is still unlikely — for now. But that’s changing fast as the intensity and duration of heat waves increase. There are ways we can better prepare.
Great summary and details of the challenges ahead. Regarding the global warming part of the problem, to make a difference, we must first understand what’s happening. Please encourage your readers to:
1. Invest a little time to read and study the resources referenced in this short essay - tinyurl.com/LHconcisestarter, and
2. Contact their elected officials at all levels, federal, state, and city to request that they come together to brief their constituents on the basics.
Doug, how are we going to handle the reverse of this in winter when there is less solar and the increase in population and construction of electric only heat (currently mandated for federal military construction) drive the consumption closer to the max capacity of the grid? Wind may increase, but it is far away from the big cities that consume the most.
Good Q, Ryan...and I'm not Doug! however I'll offer that solar still performs well in winter and loads *typically* are lower except when extreme cold. Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like solar and batteries are also essential vs 100% reliance on the big grid, plus making our existing building stock more energy efficient is badly needed (the easiest, fastest-payback arena). I hope that helps:-)
Great summary and details of the challenges ahead. Regarding the global warming part of the problem, to make a difference, we must first understand what’s happening. Please encourage your readers to:
1. Invest a little time to read and study the resources referenced in this short essay - tinyurl.com/LHconcisestarter, and
2. Contact their elected officials at all levels, federal, state, and city to request that they come together to brief their constituents on the basics.
Doug, how are we going to handle the reverse of this in winter when there is less solar and the increase in population and construction of electric only heat (currently mandated for federal military construction) drive the consumption closer to the max capacity of the grid? Wind may increase, but it is far away from the big cities that consume the most.
Good Q, Ryan...and I'm not Doug! however I'll offer that solar still performs well in winter and loads *typically* are lower except when extreme cold. Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like solar and batteries are also essential vs 100% reliance on the big grid, plus making our existing building stock more energy efficient is badly needed (the easiest, fastest-payback arena). I hope that helps:-)