Most of Virginia's major power outages are due to extreme weather
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Just over 94% of the 88 major power outages in Virginia over the past two decades were related to extreme weather, according to new analysis from nonprofit research and communications group Climate Central.
Why it matters: The electrical grid is under increasing strain as climate change raises the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, from heat waves to wildfires.
- Outages and lengthy restore times can cost the economy billions of dollars and could lead to death.
Zoom in: Extreme weather accounted for about 80% of all major U.S. power outages from 2000 to 2023, Climate Central reports.
- Such outages are defined as affecting at least 50,000 homes or businesses, or cutting service of at least 300 megawatts.
- The majority of weather-related outages are due to severe weather like major thunderstorms, followed by winter weather, tropical storms and hurricanes.
- The report notes hurricanes can cause long-lasting outages, accounting for most occurrences through 2022.
The intrigue: Wildfires and heat waves, two of the hazards most clearly linked to human-caused climate change, are becoming more problematic, Climate Central found.
Between the lines: The states with the most reported weather-related large power outages during the 23-year time frame were Texas, Michigan, California, North Carolina and Ohio.
- Virginia saw the seventh highest number of weather-related outages in the nation during that period.
What's next: With the increasing recognition that America's power capacity has to grow to support generative AI and other high-tech applications, utilities are rethinking their architecture and upgrades schedule.
- In turn, this may lead to innovations that harden the grid against extreme weather events.