(4) EAST COAST STATES TRY TO HEAD OFF POWER SHORTAGES: State energy officials from Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on regional power transmission infrastructure planning and development, to increase grid reliability and resilience.
New York City officials said the city government will decrease energy use at government buildings to ease stress on the power grid during peak summer demand.
Virginia’s Dominion Energy announced a request for proposals to build new nuclear reactors at the company’s North Anna nuclear plant, north of Richmond, VA, to meet a potential spike in energy demand.
Why It Matters: Northeast state officials are now taking the threat of exploding power demand, the likelihood of shortages, and significantly increased prices seriously. However, plant and transmission infrastructure construction is an expensive and time consuming process, making it unlikely the Northeast will avoid power shortages. Most Northeast states have a 100% clean energy mandate, with some starting as early as 2030. – R.C.