 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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Power outages take toll on Midwest |
Midwestern states face increasing unreliability in their electric grids, with outages costing Michigan alone more than $3.5 billion in 2021. |
A report from nonprofit group Local Solar for All found the cost more than doubled from 2020, echoing a warning from the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) that found the majority of the grid nationwide will face electricity shortages in the next four years. The problem is particularly stark in Michigan, where the average length of outages also sharply increased in 2021 compared to the previous year, from 6.9 hours to 14.8 hours. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which serves the midwest, may face a power deficit as early as this summer. The shortfall is largely due to rapid abandonment of fossil fuels, driving demand for electricity for resources like electric vehicles faster than the grid can supply it. "We are living in extraordinary times, from an electric industry perspective," John Moura, NERC's director of reliability assessment and performance analysis, said in December. Read more in the full report here from our colleague Saul Elbein. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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The city council in Austin, Texas, has voted to fire its beleaguered manager Spencer Cronk — part of a larger fight over the city's future. |
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| United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday that rising sea levels due to climate change could spark a "mass exodus of entire populations” and increase the potential for conflict. |
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While California's wealthy have long been considered most at risk from wildfires, new research suggests that lower-income communities experience such events most frequently. |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Trump-appointed World Bank Chief David Malpass is stepping down from the organization by the end of June, months after House Democrats called on him to resign following comments that implied climate change denial. |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security will hold a field hearing titled: "American Energy Expansion: Improving Local Economies and Communities' Way of Life" on Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m.
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
- '32 Nasty:' Rail Workers Say They Knew the Train That Derailed in East Palestine Was Dangerous (Vice)
- US Solar Surge Collides With Higher Rates and Shifting Economics (Bloomberg)
- Russia draining a Ukrainian reservoir is a reminder that water can be a weapon in a warming world (Grid)
- Phil Murphy says NJ will target 100% clean energy 15 years ahead of schedule (NorthJersey.com)
- Warming seas are carving into massive Antarctic glacier that could trigger sea level rise (The Washington Post)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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