Biden declared an emergency in the U.S. due to electricity shortage
President Joe Biden declared an emergency in the United States due to a possible shortage of electricity. He noted that disruptions in the energy markets are caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Also, the head of the White House extended the removal of duties on the import of solar panels from a number of Asian countries.
The US President noted that several factors threaten his country’s ability to generate enough electricity to meet expected consumer demand.
“Multiple factors are threatening the ability of the United States to provide sufficient electricity generation to serve expected customer demand. These factors include disruptions to energy markets caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. For example, in parts of the country, drought conditions coupled with heatwaves are simultaneously causing projected electricity supply shortfalls and record electricity demand. As a result, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation have both warned of near-term electricity reliability concerns in their recent summer reliability assessments.
In order to ensure electric resource adequacy, utilities and grid operators must engage in advance planning to build new capacity now to serve expected customer demand.“
President Biden said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation warned of short-term power reliability issues in their recent summer reliability assessments. In this regard, it was decided to introduce a state of emergency.
“I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America do hereby declare an emergency to exist with respect to the threats to the availability of sufficient electricity generation capacity to meet expected customer demand.”
The President of the United States also ordered that the Secretary of Commerce be given additional powers to respond to emergencies. The measures also include the abolition of import duties for a period of two years on certain solar cells and modules imported from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
