Opinion: Rethinking utility incentives is key to meeting rising US electricity demands
As electricity demand spikes, a shift from traditional fossil fuel plants to renewable energy sources is critical to avoid compromising U.S. climate objectives.
Jonathan Mingle writes for The New York Times.
In short:
- Utilities like Duke Energy plan to build more gas-fired plants to meet rising electricity needs driven by digitalization and electric vehicles.
- Innovative solutions such as virtual power plants and enhanced energy efficiency could meet these demands more sustainably.
- Changes in regulatory frameworks are being tested to incentivize utilities to invest in green technologies.
Key quote:
"We need to electrify everything from cars to appliances to slow climate change, but we won’t be able to reach our climate goals if we power all of those machines with dirty energy."
— Jonathan Mingle, independent journalist and the author of “Gaslight: The Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Fight for America’s Energy Future”
Why this matters:
As demand for electricity increases, the adoption of sustainable practices and regulatory changes could significantly reduce carbon emissions and foster an equitable, modern electric grid.
