{"id":59732,"date":"2021-10-08T06:06:48","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T11:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=59732"},"modified":"2021-10-08T06:07:31","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T11:07:31","slug":"energy-crisis-may-unleash-winter-blackouts-across-us-insider-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=59732","title":{"rendered":"Energy Crisis May Unleash Winter Blackouts Across US, Insider Warns\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Energy Crisis May Unleash Winter Blackouts Across US, Insider Warns\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/header>\n
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The energy crisis that is rippling through\u00a0Asia and Europe<\/a>\u00a0could unleash electricity shortages and blackouts in the U.S., according to\u00a0Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ernie Thrasher, CEO\u00a0of Xcoal Energy & Resources LLC., told energy research firm IHS Markit that U.S. utilities quickly turn to more coal because of soaring natural gas prices.<\/p>\n

“We’ve actually had discussions with power utilities who are concerned that they simply will have to\u00a0implement blackouts this winter<\/u>,”<\/strong> Thrasher warned.<\/em><\/p>\n

He said, “They\u00a0don’t see where the fuel is coming from to meet demand<\/strong><\/u>,” adding that\u00a023% of utilities are switching away from gas this fall\/winter to burn more coal.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

With natgas, coal, and oil prices all soaring is a clear signal the green energy transition will\u00a0take decades, not years<\/a>. Walking back fossil fuels for unreliable clean energy has been a disaster in Asia and Europe. These power-hungry continents are\u00a0scrambling<\/a>\u00a0for fossil fuel supplies as stockpiles are well below seasonal trends ahead of cooler weather.<\/p>\n

A similar story is playing out in the U.S., where increased demand for coal might not be reached by mining companies. We\u00a0noted<\/a>\u00a0Thursday morning that boosting output might be challenging due to years of decommissioning mines to reduce carbon emissions and transition the economy from fossil fuels to green energy. There’s also been a steady decline of miners over the last three and a half decades.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0“That whole supply chain is stretched beyond its limits,”<\/strong>\u00a0Thrasher said.\u00a0“It’s going to be a challenging winter for us here in the United States.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Utility company Duke Energy Corp.’s Piedmont Natural Gas unit, covering North and South Carolina customers, warned power bills this winter are set to rise due to high natgas prices and low production.<\/p>\n

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