FOX Climate correspondent Ian Oliver discusses particulars of the main winter storm bringing sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow and important ice throughout a number of states on ‘Particular Report.’
As a large winter storm barrels throughout the U.S., energy grid operators are taking extraordinary steps to maintain the lights on and keep away from rolling blackouts.
The storm, stretching greater than 2,300 miles, has triggered sharp worth volatility in electrical energy markets and compelled some areas to briefly lean on oil-fired era to fulfill demand, Reuters reported.
PJM Interconnection — the nation’s largest regional energy grid, serving 67 million folks throughout the East and Mid-Atlantic — noticed wholesale electrical energy costs briefly surge above $3,000 per megawatt-hour early Saturday, up from below $200 earlier within the day, Reuters reported.
In New England, gas oil era has been ramped as much as assist the area preserve pure fuel, its major gas supply, in keeping with Reuters.
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An individual walks within the snow, Saturday, in Little Rock, Ark. (Will Newton/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
On the heart of the pressure is the nation’s heavy dependence on pure fuel supply, in keeping with Didi Caldwell, founder and CEO of site-selection agency International Location Methods.
Pure fuel now fuels roughly 40% of U.S. electrical energy era, up from about 12% in 1990, making uninterrupted provide crucial throughout excessive climate, Caldwell mentioned.
“What we lack is ample capability to retailer and ship fuel in actual time,” Caldwell advised FOX Enterprise, noting that the U.S. has considerable reserves.
In contrast to coal vegetation, which have traditionally stockpiled months of gas on-site, most pure fuel vegetation depend on just-in-time supply. Any disruption to pipelines or infrastructure can rapidly threaten energy era, in keeping with Caldwell.
“If something occurs to disrupt the provision of fuel to the producing stations, they’ve little to no sensible backup,” she mentioned.
Winter storms amplify the danger. Gasoline demand spikes as households crank up warmth, whereas electrical energy demand surges on the identical time— a lot of it fueled by pure fuel.
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An in depth view of flight listings at Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport on January 24, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
“Each area is uncovered, however for various causes,” Caldwell mentioned. “Within the southeast, the shortage of storage and restricted transport capability signifies that throughout chilly snaps, pure fuel is competing with itself.”
Some of the susceptible areas is Transcontinental Gasoline Pipe Line Co. Zone 5, which runs by way of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, in keeping with Caldwell.
“Restricted storage and pipeline capability imply that in main winter occasions, atypical for this area just like the one predicted for this weekend, costs for fuel and the transport capability — mainly the reserved quantity on the pipeline — skyrocket,” she mentioned.
The vulnerabilities of this technique have been laid naked throughout Texas’ lethal Winter Storm Uri in 2021, when frozen fuel infrastructure triggered widespread energy outages. Whereas upgrades adopted, the present storm is among the many first main checks of these enhancements, Caldwell mentioned.
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Empty bread cabinets at a grocery retailer, Friday, in Washington, D.C., in anticipation of this weekend’s storm. (Al Drago/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
The same near-failure occurred in 2022, when fuel techniques within the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic have been pushed to their limits throughout an Arctic chilly occasion. The grid held solely by way of emergency measures and skinny margins, in keeping with Caldwell.
Caldwell mentioned long-term options would require grid modernization, focused upgrades to fuel supply, and higher coordination between fuel and electrical techniques.
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“Including extra pure fuel era won’t repair and will exacerbate the dangers,” she mentioned.
PJM Interconnection didn’t instantly reply to FOX Enterprise request for remark.
