The city of New Orleans was thrown into a state of disarray on Sunday afternoon as the region's power supply was abruptly cut off.
The move was a desperate attempt by the grid operator to reduce power usage and stave off a large-scale blackout. This drastic measure, described as a "last resort," affected nearly 100,000 customers, plunging them into darkness for several hours, as reported by Nola.com.
According to the Daily Caller, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), a significant electrical grid operator, directed energy company Entergy to reduce power with a mere three minutes' notice. This move was aimed at preventing a blackout that could have had far-reaching consequences. The decision to phase out coal-fired power plants, a move that has been criticized by President Donald Trump's administration, energy policy experts, and multiple North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reports, has put MISO at an elevated risk for blackouts.
In a statement released on Sunday, Entergy explained, "The forced outages were directed by MISO as a last resort, and done in order to prevent a more extensive, prolonged power outage that could severely affect the reliability of the power grid." The abruptness of the power cut left many, including New Orleans City Council member Joe Giarrusso, questioning the circumstances. "How does this happen?" Giarrusso asked. "There are lots of questions that need answering."
Giarrusso, along with fellow council member Helena Moreno, pointed out that MISO gave Entergy a mere three-minute warning before the power was cut. The reason for such short notice remains unclear. The blackout affected approximately 100,000 customers in and around New Orleans, according to local CBS affiliate 4WLL.
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, whose district includes New Orleans, shed some light on the situation. He revealed that one Entergy generator was offline for scheduled maintenance when a second generator supplying the region also failed. Lewis noted that the power demand exceeded projections at the time and added that he was unsure as to whether the second generator was operated by Entergy or Cleco.
In a bid to prevent potential capacity shortages that could cause power outages, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright ordered MISO to ensure that the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan, continues to operate. This order was issued just two days before the blackouts. Wright stated, "This administration will not sit back and allow dangerous energy subtraction policies threaten the resiliency of our grid and raise electricity prices on American families."
MISO, which powers parts of 15 Midwestern states, has been reducing its reliance on readily available energy sources such as gas, coal, or nuclear power. Instead, it has been pursuing solar and wind resources to meet demand. This shift is a significant factor contributing to its potential risk, according to NERC.
NERC's summer reliability assessment flagged similar warnings for MISO and three other major grid operators across the country. A spokesperson for MISO told the Daily Caller News Foundation, "High temperatures in Louisiana led to higher-than-expected demand, and with planned and unplanned transmission and generation outages MISO needed to take this action as a very last resort."
Despite the swift restoration of power, the incident has raised concerns about the reliability of the power grid. It has also sparked a broader conversation about the nation's energy policies and the need for a balanced approach that ensures both the sustainability and reliability of the power supply.
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