original title:
US media: Deadly winter storm exposes flaws in US energy system
On Dec. 27 local time, Bloomberg reported that the winter storm that had engulfed most of the United States in recent days had killed more than 60 people and plunged millions into darkness. In addition, several US states have experienced problems with natural gas and electricity supplies due to the severe cold. Michael Weber, a professor of energy resources at the University of Texas at Austin, said the extreme cold had exposed the fragility of the US energy system.
Natural gas, the primary fuel for heating and power generation in the United States, has seen its supply plummet to its lowest in more than a decade as wells freeze and pipeline failures send prices soaring.
The US power grid is also on the verge of being forced to shut down. The largest US grid operator, PJM, in a rare move on the eve of a traditional holiday, has asked some of its customers to cut demand, warning of continued blackouts. In Texas, the Department of Energy has approved an emergency waiver that allows power plants to continue operating without violating emission limits. (Headquarters reporter Zhang Yingzhe)
