US Declares Energy Emergency to Face Extreme Heatwave

The United States government has officially announced an energy emergency status for the country’s largest power grid. This move was taken in anticipation of a dangerous heatwave that threatens the resilience of national electrical infrastructure.

The emergency order, issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday (30/6) local time, grants authority to power plants within the PJM Interconnection LLC region to operate at maximum levels. This region provides services to 67 million people across 13 states.

In an effort to maintain supply stability, the order also allows power plants to exceed certain environmental requirements during the emergency period. Additionally, a second order from the Department of Energy provides authorisation for the use of backup generators in the PJM region as a last resort.

PJM submitted this emergency request on Monday following warnings of potentially record-breaking electricity demand. Air temperatures are expected to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or approximately 38 degrees Celsius.

The National Weather Service reported that these extreme temperatures are triggered by a ‘heat dome’ phenomenon, where high pressure traps hot air over a specific region. These high temperatures are expected to spread from Washington to Boston, with the potential to break hundreds of daily temperature records in more than two dozen states.

This year’s summer season presents a significant challenge for the United States electrical system. In addition to weather factors, the power grid is struggling to meet massive surges in energy demand from data centres.

Previously last month, the Department of Energy had issued a similar order for the deployment of backup power resources in the PJM region to mitigate the risk of power outages in the Mid-Atlantic region.