20 million Americans across 17 states face risk of blackout

Around 20 million Americans across 17 states are living with the threat of a potential blackout.

As North America continues to face extreme heat warnings — which are pushing the power grid to its limits — the US Department of Energy (DOE) has been forced to take action.

Specifically, authorising the operator serving parts of 17 states to activate idle power sources.

These states are: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

With regular Americans dealing with an uncomfortable blend of rising temperatures and humidity, it’s caused air conditioning demand to surge.

The DOE’s decision allows the usually switched-off backup plants to generate extra electricity should the main grid become overwhelmed.

If electricity supplies do become strained, the organisation that oversees the central US grid, Southwest Power Pool (SPP), will be able to launch said backup generators.

The department also said more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation remain available nationwide.

The move is the step before a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert, which could trigger rolling blackouts to prevent a collapse further across the country.

Former DOE official Kerry Duggan has said that, unfortunately, extreme heat across the US is becoming a very real energy challenge.

Duggan said: ‘As we experience more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves, our ability to keep homes, businesses and critical facilities cool depends on having a reliable and resilient electric grid.’

Alerts from the National Weather Service on Monday reported that temperatures across the 17 states will reach above 100°F.

In parts of Louisiana, it could be as high as 115°F.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, residents could expect highs of 110°F. 

It’s not just extreme heat Americans have had to deal with in recent weeks, either.

Last week, millions were warned of life-threatening conditions as a tropical storm near the US Gulf Coast headed toward multiple states.

Dubbed ‘Storm Bertha,’ experts expected it to bring up to eight inches of heavy rainfall, high winds, and flooding to the south-east of the country.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) also alerted to a ‘life-threatening storm surge,’ while meteorologists predicted states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama would be the worst hit.

The NHC said at the time: ‘A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.’

Tropical Storm Bertha was first located around 105 miles south of Panama City, Florida. It was carrying wind speeds of 40mph.

It also marked the second tropical storm this season — following on from Tropical Storm Arthur in June that caused flash flooding and tornadoes in portions of the south.

The extreme weather the US is facing right now is all down to an incredibly hot summer in the south.