Extreme heat this summer could create energy shortfalls in California, Texas, New England and the U.S. West and Central regions, the organization responsible for North American electric reliability warned on Wednesday. California is most at risk of power shortages this summer as the state increasingly relies on intermittent energy sources like wind and solar, and as climate change causes more extreme heat events, drought and wildfires across the U.S. West. “California is at risk of energy emergencies during periods of normal peak summer demand and high risk when above-normal demand is widespread in the West,” the North American Electric Reliability Corp (NERC) said in its 2021 Summer Reliability Assessment. Last summer, utilities in the Golden State imposed rotating blackouts that left over 400,000 homes and businesses without power for up to 2-1/2 hours when energy supplies ran short during a couple hot days in August. That was just a […]