The Department of Energy (DOE) has released its Resource Adequacy report, “Evaluating the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid“, highlighting significant concerns about the future reliability and security of the U.S. electrical grid.
The report warns that if current trends of retiring reliable power sources continues without adding sufficient firm capacity, blackouts could increase by 100 times by 2030. This situation is exacerbated by the growing electricity demand driven by AI and data centers, as well as the push towards less reliable renewable energy sources.
The report also identifies vulnerable regions and suggests capacity targets to restore reliability, emphasizing the need for a strategy of “energy addition” that supports all forms of affordable, reliable, and secure energy. The DOE also highlights the potential use of emergency authority under the Federal Power Act to address these challenges.