(Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)
As the summer approaches across the U.S., there is growing discussion and reports about whether electric grids can meet the demands.
As OK Energy Today reported this week, the Southwest Power Pool, which includes Oklahoma as one of its 14-member states, indicated it will not have major problems supplying electricity to meeting increased air conditioning demands.
One report suggested that connecting Texas’ electric grid to the rest of the nation could slash carbon emissions and prevent power outages like the one during the deadly 2021 winter storm, a new study concludes. Still another report focused on Louisiana utility regulators who made a recent call for a comprehensive review of utility SWEPCO’ system because of ongoing power outages, especially during hurricane season and extreme heat.
Then others are adding climate change to the story. The Associated Press did an analysis of death certificates from 2023 and proclaimed it to be a record year for heat-related deaths and illnesses, with Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas among the hotspots where rates surged.
The AP reported the death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died last summer referred to the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records. It was according to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. With May already breaking heat records, 2024 could be even deadlier, according to the news agency.
The analysis showed Oklahoma had 37 heat related deaths in 2023 or 1.6% of all deaths. Texas had 455 heat related deaths and they amounted to 19.73% of all deaths in the state during the same year. Louisiana had 85 heat deaths and they amounted to 3.69% of all deaths.
Still another report, by the Gulf States Newsroom, clamed that hotter summers along with inefficient construction and the political influence of utility companies have contributed to higher energy costs in the Gulf South region.
