(ConservativeJournal.org) – To combat the currently huge energy demand amid extremely high temperatures, the US Energy Department has issued an emergency order targeted at sustaining Texas’ power supply. This directive, released on Thursday, September 7, potentially permits Texan power plants to exceed pollution restrictions until Friday night to address the “abnormally high” electricity needs.
On Thursday, Dallas recorded a scorching 107 degrees, surpassing the prior 2012 record of 104 degrees. This marked the 5th consecutive day of triple-digit temperatures.
San Antonio, in this month alone, has encountered daily temperatures at or above 100 degrees. The city has endured 17 days exceeding 105 degrees this year, surpassing the previous record of three days set in 2011.
With the ongoing heatwave shattering temperature records nationwide, Texas has seen its power grid strained frequently by increased demand for amenities like air conditioning. Wind and solar energy have been assisting in bolstering the grid.
Jennifer Granholm, the US Energy Secretary, concluded that an emergency situation has arisen in Texas due to electric energy shortages, limited generation facilities, and other factors.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), responsible for 90% of the state’s customers, submitted an emergency order request on Wednesday. ERCOT cautioned that unless demand decreases or additional supply is incorporated, power outages might become necessary.
Texas has seen similar issues with power in the past. In February 2021, because of extremely low temperatures, the entire power grid of the state was essentially in fluctuation. Millions of people were out of power for days due to the outages, leading to calls for investigations into the energy department of the state.
While rolling blackouts have been averted in the current crisis, ERCOT urged Texans to conserve electricity on Thursday due to the grid conditions being “tight”.
As of Friday morning, ERCOT’s website reported “adequate power” for the demand that is currently required by the state, but the balance between supply and demand is anticipated to become strained later in the day.
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