Study Shows Renewable Energy Could Help Prevent Blackouts Like Texas

"Electricity blackouts could be avoided across the nation by switching to solar, wind and water energy sources, the report argues"

"Around this time last year, millions of Texans were shivering without power during one of the coldest spells to hit the central United States. For five days, blackouts prevented people from heating their homes, cooking or even sleeping. More than 200 people died in what is considered the nation’s costliest winter storm on record, amounting to $24 billion in damages.

Twelve months later, the state’s electrical grid, while improved, is still vulnerable to weather-induced power outages.

“If we got another storm this year, like Uri in 2021, the grid would go down again,” said Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University. “This is still a huge risk for us.”

Now, a recent study shows that electricity blackouts can be avoided across the nation — perhaps even during intense weather events — by switching to 100 percent clean and renewable energy, such as solar, wind and water."

Kasha Patel reports for the Washington Post February 20, 2022.

Source: Washington Post, 02/22/2022