Existing US Energy Generation Retirements Increase Blackout Risk by 100 Times in 2030: DOE

U.S. economic growth and leadership in new technologies will be threatened without ensuring reliable energy supply, according to the agency.

An undated file photograph of a wind turbine near Block Island, R.I., on July 7, 2022. John Moore/Getty Images

The planned retirement of more than 100 gigawatts (GW) of power generation capacity by the end of the decade could increase the risk of blackouts in the United States by 100 times, the Department of Energy (DOE) said in a July 7 statement.

“Allowing 104 GW of firm generation to retire by 2030—without timely replacement—could lead to significant outages when weather conditions do not accommodate wind and solar generation,” the DOE stated.