The US government has declared a short-term power grid emergency affecting a network serving more than 60 million people, as an unseasonable spell of warm weather threatens to strain electricity supplies across 13 states.
\n\nThe Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order on Tuesday allowing regional grid operator PJM Interconnection to exceed normal pollution limits and bring additional power generation online to help prevent blackouts.
\n\nThe order is expected to remain in effect until Friday.
\n\nForecasters have predicted temperatures in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions will rise into the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit (21-32C), prompting more households and businesses to switch on fans and air conditioning.
\n\nThe grid is already under pressure, with several power plants undergoing seasonal maintenance and transmission lines temporarily out of service for repairs and safety work.
\n\nEnergy Secretary Chris Wright said the order would help ensure that millions of families and businesses had access to reliable electricity during the period of high demand.
\n\nHe blamed the previous administration's energy policies for leaving the grid more vulnerable to outages, arguing that restrictions on coal and natural gas generation had increased reliance on intermittent renewable sources.
\n\nPJM Interconnection coordinates electricity supply across Delaware, Illinois, Indiana…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/world
