(PresidentialHill.com)- This summer, Michigan might see rolling blackouts as renewable energy sources fail to meet demand.
Residents in Michigan are being warned that blackouts may be required during the hot summer months, with a hasty transition to renewable energy sources at the forefront of the problem.
Joe Trotter, the Energy Environment and Agriculture Task Force Director for the American Legislative Exchange Council, stated that leaders need to be cognizant of the day-to-day impact. Trotter explained to media that while it’s nice to look at switching to renewable energy in the future, right now there are problems which need to be addressed.
Reports show Trotter’s concerns come after the Mid-continent Independent System Operator’s seasonal assessment revealed capacity shortfalls in both the north and central regions of MISO. Which are putting the areas at increased risk of controlled outages to preserve the electric system this Summer, according to JT Smith, the MISO executive director. It is a step MISO has never been taken in the state before.
A very hot Michigan Summer, according to MISO, will put a strain on the grid, with a peak forecast of 124 gigawatts, up from the present 119 GW of available electricity output.
Heat isn’t the only reason Michigan may experience electricity shortage this summer, according to Trotter, who told media that too many traditional power facilities are being shut down as grid operators try to transition to renewable energy sources. He explained that with the increase of solar and wind, it’s becoming increasingly reliant on uncontrollable external variables. Batteries are being developed to store solar and wind energy for later use, but don’t have the capacity to generate power 24 hours a day according to Trotter. They’re taking coal plants offline faster than infrastructure to support renewable energy can be built.
Joe Trotter revealed to media that there is focus on a long-term solution to replace coal with renewables but such solutions are years or decades away. The solution now is to keep these plants open. If coal is a source of worry, they can switch to natural gas.
He believes that keeping traditional power plants functioning is the best approach, but questioned if politicians had the will to do so.
