New DOE Report Warns of Looming US Blackouts by 2030, Citing AI Demand and Plant Closures
New DOE Report Warns of Looming US Blackouts by 2030, Citing AI Demand and Plant Closures
A recent Department of Energy (DOE) report indicates a significant risk of widespread blackouts across the United States by 2030, driven by an anticipated surge in power demand, particularly from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The analysis, which has sparked debate over future energy policy, attributes the projected shortfall to the ongoing closures of coal and natural gas power plants and what it describes as an over-reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources.
The DOE report, a direct response to a White House executive order focused on grid reliability and security, outlines a methodology to pinpoint regions most susceptible to outages, potentially paving the way for federal interventions. It warns that if current power plant decommissioning schedules proceed without adequate replacement capacity, blackouts could escalate dramatically within the next five years, undermining economic growth, national security, and technological leadership.
The findings align with a pro-fossil fuel stance, criticizing past administrations’ ‘radical green agenda’ and advocating for policies that support traditional energy generation. The Department of Energy has already utilized emergency authority to extend the operational life of certain coal and other power plants, citing immediate concerns about electricity shortages exacerbated by the escalating power demands of data centers crucial for AI development. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the critical need to ‘unleash American energy’ to ensure grid stability, maintain competitive advantage in AI, and stabilize electricity prices.
This report surfaces amidst broader policy shifts, including a significant fiscal package that curtails tax credits for wind and solar, challenging the trajectory of the US clean energy transition. Despite renewables, especially utility-scale solar, accounting for a substantial majority of new capacity additions last year, the DOE analysis suggests a re-evaluation of energy strategy is imperative to avert a looming power crisis.
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