As the United States faces a heatwave that puts the electric grid under pressure, Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) has authored an op-ed highlighting a proposed legislative package aimed at strengthening the nation’s energy infrastructure. According to Griffith, “House Republicans offer a policy change that bolsters our grid and helps protect Americans from blackout threats.”
Griffith points out that regions across the country are experiencing extreme temperatures, leading power companies to urge customers to conserve electricity. In Virginia, local power providers linked with the Tennessee Valley Authority have requested reduced electricity usage following alerts of potential strain on the grid.
Recent incidents highlight these vulnerabilities. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to maintain operations at a coal-fired plant in Michigan due to expected high demand. Despite this measure, New Orleans experienced a significant outage over Memorial Day weekend, affecting over 100,000 customers when utilities ran out of capacity.
Reports indicated that two nuclear plants in the region disconnected from the grid—one for maintenance and another unexpectedly—forcing MISO to cut power as a preventive measure. Entergy, an area utility company, stated these outages were necessary to avert more extensive disruptions.
Internationally, Portugal and Spain suffered a major blackout on April 28 impacting 55 million people. This incident coincided with Spain’s first weekday fully powered by renewables earlier in April. Dr. Ali Mehrizi-Sani from Virginia Tech noted renewable systems’ susceptibility to blackouts without seamless grid adaptation.
The op-ed critiques federal policies perceived as limiting baseload energy sources like coal and natural gas while favoring renewables. Griffith asserts that such measures have left the U.S. electric grid vulnerable.
The proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” aims to counteract some tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act which disincentivize fossil fuels while maintaining incentives for nuclear energy due to its baseload potential. Additionally, it proposes an energy project insurance pool designed to safeguard investments in traditional energy sectors against permit revocations.
Griffith concludes by emphasizing the need for reliable energy solutions amid ongoing summer heatwaves: “We do not need to follow in Spain’s footsteps and make Iberian Peninsula-style blackouts the norm.”
