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Half United States at high risk of power shortage in next years, regulator states

About half of the United States is at increased threat of power supply shortfalls in the next decade that might lead to interruptions and electrical energy conservation measures, the North American Electric Dependability Corporation said on Tuesday.

As U.S. power usage rises from AI information centers and the electrification of structures and transport, efforts to include electricity generation have actually failed, producing an heightening supply-demand imbalance, NERC said in its annual Long-Term Dependability Evaluation.

We are seeing demand growth like we have not seen in years, stated John Moura, director of NERC's Dependability Assessment and Performance Analysis. Our facilities is not being constructed quickly enough to keep up with the rising demand.

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which runs the electrical grid in 15 states, was at high threat of shortfalls even at normal peak demand durations, NERC said.

Other grid operators at elevated risk, in which shortfalls might take place throughout extreme heat or cold, include PJM Interconnection, ISO New England, Texas and California operators. Parts of the northwest, northeast, southeast and midwest were better positioned to keep the lights on over the long term, NERC stated.

Sped up electricity demand added to the high-risk and elevated-risk locations, in addition to planned fossil-fired power plant retirements, which might leave service before new supply comes online.

NERC discovered that there are 78 gigawatts of validated generator retirements, and another 37 gigawatts with revealed plans for retirement, through 2034.

One gigawatt of capability can power as many as 1 million U.S. homes.

NERC is a North American nonprofit regulator that develops market standards, evaluations and forecasts focusing on the dependability and security of the electric grid.

(source: Reuters)