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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where Power Outages Are Most Common in the US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. From Winter Storm Blair to Hurricane Beryl in Texas and the more recent Connecticut thunderstorms, power outages from severe weather events have become an increasingly common reality across the United States in recent years. A nationwide study from the Urban Resilience AI Lab at Texas A&M University has produced the first-ever Power System Vulnerability Index (PSVI)—a classification of each county identifying those most at risk of frequent and prolonged blackouts. "Using data from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we studied the effect of weather events on the frequency and duration of nationwide power outages over the past 10 years," explained paper author and civil engineer Junwei Ma in a statement. "The dataset included over 179 million data points sorted by time and location, allowing us to create the PSVI." Where US Power Outages Hit Hardest The researchers' analysis examined outages between 2014 and 2023 across 3,022 U.S. counties, covering 96 percent of the contiguous United States. Results showed a steady nationwide rise in power system vulnerability, with 318 counties across 45 states now considered "hotspots" for high risk. Regions Most Vulnerable to Blackouts According to the PSVI data, the most vulnerable U.S. regions include: The West Coast, particularly California and Washington The East Coast, including Florida and the Northeast megalopolis The Great Lakes corridor (Chicago–Detroit) Gulf Coast areas of Texas The average county experienced outages lasting 7.3 days per year—roughly 2 percent of the year without power—with an outage occurring about once a week. Since 2019, outage duration, frequency, and scale have increased by around 20 percent annually. Why Vulnerability Is Rising Researchers linked many spikes in vulnerability to extreme weather disasters such as wildfires in California, hurricanes in Florida, and the 2021 Texas winter storm. However, non-weather factors, including aging electrical grids, rising energy demand, and urban development density, also play a major role. Urban counties, with dense populations and infrastructure, showed significantly higher vulnerability than rural areas. "Dense street trees, heavy electricity demand, and concentrated infrastructure mean cities are hit harder and recover more slowly from outages," Ma explained. How the Power System Vulnerability Index Works The PSVI was built using explainable A.I., a machine learning method that weighs outage frequency, intensity, and duration to produce a county-by-county score. This publicly available tool allows users to explore vulnerability trends over the past decade and compare risks nationwide. "We're turning 179 million messy outage logs into a roadmap for prevention—showing each county whether its biggest pain point is too many outages, too long, or too large," paper author and civil engineer professor Ali Mostafavi told Newsweek. Why It Matters The team also warned that many A.I. data centers and critical facilities are located in high-risk zones, underscoring the need for targeted investment in resilient infrastructure as severe weather events are expected to become more frequent. "The data show a clear pattern: U.S. power outages are becoming more frequent, longer, and clustered in hotspot counties," Mostafavi said. "By turning high-frequency outage logs into a county-level Power-System Vulnerability Index, we see not only where the grid struggles, but why—whether the main issue is too many events, too many customers affected, or restorations that take too long. "Without targeted upgrades, today's chronic pockets will intensify during climate extremes." The index represents the first transparent, nationwide, county-level view of grid vulnerability built from high-frequency, utility-reported outages, Mostafavi continued. "It moves the conversation from anecdotes to comparable metrics every policymaker can understand." He concluded: "With climate extremes intensifying and electrification accelerating, leaders need clear, data-driven targets for hardening the grid and protecting residents." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about power outages? Let us know via science@ Reference Ma, J., Li, B., Omitaomu, O. A., & Mostafavi, A. (2025). Establishing nationwide power system vulnerability index across US counties using interpretable machine learning. Applied Energy, 397.
The Hill
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Americans support Trump ending Biden's green grift
The radical Left and the Biden administration treated climate policy not as an energy or environmental strategy, but as a political religion — one funded by the American taxpayer to the tune of more than $1 trillion. President Trump is right to shut off the 'green' subsidy spigot, and recent polling shows that Americans are supportive. The Orwellian-named 'Inflation Reduction Act' set aside $393 billion in green energy subsidies, funding everything from electric vehicle rebates to wind and solar tax credits. That may sound good in a press release, but it hasn't delivered for hard-working Americans. In fact, a recent Associated Press–NORC poll found that 72 percent of Americans say they haven't personally benefited from the federal government's climate initiatives. Worse yet, 60 percent of respondents believe the policies aren't worth the cost. Those numbers underscore what Texans—and energy-producing states—have long known: top-down green energy mandates don't work, nor do they help American families. Instead, they burden them. They raise utility bills, overload unreliable electric grids, and put America's energy security in the hands of hostile foreign nations like China and Saudi Arabia. Over the last twenty years, Texas has become the wind and solar capital of the nation, while electricity from natural gas has stagnated and coal use has diminished. Wind and solar have grown to about 37 percent of power on Texas' electrical grid, while coal power has decreased 21 percent over the decade. More than $140 billion in private capital has poured into wind, solar, and batteries in Texas, fueled by tens of billions in taxpayer dollars and a rigged price market. And what has it gotten us? Wind and solar have failed the grid time and time again, and they completely abandoned Texans just when power was needed most during Winter Storm Uri. They have also contributed to electricity prices rising 28 percent from 2020 to 2024. The Biden administration made 'Net Zero by 2050' the cornerstone of its energy policy. But this arbitrary goal isn't grounded in engineering, economics, or energy reality. It's driven by international climate conferences and activist talking points. Even the Associated Press admits that 42 percent of Americans aren't willing to pay even one dollar more on their electric bill for climate change, yet leftist Democrats keep forcing costly green mandates down our throats. 'Net Zero' has become a catchphrase for policies that force Americans to pay more for less energy, while weakening our nation's ability to compete globally — all to virtue-signal on the environment. Here's what radical environmentalists won't admit: the U.S. is already leading the world in emissions reductions. Thanks to the increased use of clean-burning natural gas, U.S. carbon emissions are down more than 20 percent in the last twenty years — a market-driven achievement, not a bureaucratic one. Texas has played a major role in this progress, proving that energy abundance and environmental responsibility aren't mutually exclusive. Meanwhile, the same administration that demonized fossil fuels was happy to enjoy their benefits. The oil and gas industry supports over 10 million American jobs and contributes nearly $2 trillion to our economy, about 8 percent of our GDP. Moreover, oil and natural gas still supply over 80% of America's energy, power millions of homes and vehicles, and fuel the very economy that underwrites Biden's climate spending spree. Texas does energy the right way. We lead the nation in oil and gas production. We have built the most resilient energy workforce in the world. And we do it while delivering billions in tax revenue, job creation, and energy security — not empty promises wrapped in green ribbon. Trump's move to roll back these subsidies isn't anti-environment — it's pro-reality. It is a return to policies that trust innovation and competition instead of federal micromanagement. It's a rejection of climate alarmism and an embrace of energy abundance. The American people want affordable, reliable energy. They want policies that put working families ahead of political agendas. They don't want to be forced into buying electric vehicles they can't afford, powered by grids that can't stay on. It is time we stop pretending the federal government can subsidize its way to a sustainable future. True sustainability comes from markets, not mandates — from Texas oilfields, not Washington boardrooms.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rain and snow will continue across parts of New Mexico tonight
Locally heavy rain and heavy mountain snow will continue in parts of New Mexico tonight. Rain and thunderstorm chances will continue into the weekend. Heavy rain and heavy snow has fallen in parts of New Mexico over the last 24 hours. Over two feet of snow has fallen in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Meanwhile, over one inch of rain has fallen in eastern parts of New Mexico. Scattered showers and storms continue across most of New Mexico Tuesday afternoon, switching over to snowfall above about 8,000′ in northern New Mexico. A Flood Watch continue for northern and northeastern New Mexico through 6 PM. A Winter Storm Warning continues for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains through 10 PM. Some of the rain and snow showers could be heavy at times through late tonight, but the moisture will mostly be ending by tomorrow morning. A few spotty rain and mountain snow showers may stick around into early Wednesday morning though. Another round of showers and storms will develop Wednesday afternoon, but they won't be as widespread as we've seen the last couple of days. The rain won't be nearly as heavy either. Temperatures will be below average, but a warming trend will be starting. Warmer weather moves in Thursday and Friday with isolated afternoon storm chances mainly over the mountains and in the surrounding areas. A higher chance for showers and storms will return to western, northern, and central New Mexico Saturday afternoon. The highest chance for rain will again be over the mountains. Temperatures will continue to warm. Sunny and dry weather returns for Mother's Day as high temperatures climb above average again for this time of year. Dry weather will stick around into early next week as the winds pick up on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LyondellBasell to Report Q1 Earnings: What's in the Offing?
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. LYB is scheduled to report first-quarter 2025 earnings on April 25, before the opening company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, missed once and reported in-line results on the other occasion, with the average earnings surprise being 0.2%.LYB stock has lost 42.3% in the past year compared with the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry's 26.3% decline. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Let's see how things are shaping up for this announcement. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter's revenues is pegged at $7,593 million, indicating a decline of around 23.5% from the prior-year reported the Olefins and Polyolefins – Americas division, the consensus estimate stands at $2,737.8 million, suggesting a year-over-year decline of 4.6%. The same for the Olefins and Polyolefins – Europe, Asia & International division is pegged at $2,550.7 million, implying a 7.1% decrease from last year's LYB's Advanced Polymer Solutions segment, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter revenues is $948.4 million, suggesting a 1.7% decline year over consensus estimate for the Intermediaries and Derivatives segment's revenues is pinned at $2,472.9 million, suggesting a 4.4% decrease from the year-ago reported same for the Technology segment's revenues is pegged at $175.4 million, suggesting an 8.6% fall from a year ago. LYB is expected to have faced margin pressures from higher ethane and natural gas prices in the first quarter. The company expects increased ethane and natural gas costs in the quarter due to higher winter energy demand, along with slight gains in product volumes as seasonal slowdowns ease and export markets remain at the company's O&P-Americas facilities are projected to run at around 80% capacity during the first quarter, primarily due to scheduled maintenance at the Channelview olefin assets and disruptions caused by Winter Storm Enzo. Reduced rates and asset shutdowns associated with Enzo are likely to have adversely impacted production volumes and margins. LYB is expected to have benefited from demand gains across most product categories in the first quarter. The company expects to benefit from moderate demand improvements across most of its businesses as customers start restocking following year-end inventory reductions. Furthermore, octane premiums are anticipated to rise with the conclusion of the winter season. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for LyondellBasell this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. But that's not the case ESP: Earnings ESP for LYB is -11.7%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate stands at 32 cents, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 36 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Rank: LyondellBasell currently carries Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).(Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.) LyondellBasell Industries N.V. price-eps-surprise | LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Quote Here are some companies in the basic materials space you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:Methanex Corporation MEOH, slated to release earnings on April 30, has an Earnings ESP of +4.74% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. The consensus estimate for MEOH's earnings for the first quarter is currently pegged at $1.25. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks Inc. ATI, slated to release earnings on May 1, has an Earnings ESP of +2.46% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The consensus mark for ATI's first-quarter earnings is currently pegged at 58 Gold Corporation KGC, scheduled to release first-quarter earnings on May 6, has an Earnings ESP of +13.21%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinross Gold's earnings for the first quarter is currently pegged at 21 cents. KGC currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ATI Inc. (ATI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Methanex Corporation (MEOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A recreational beach in Chincoteague is moving to avoid erosion
The recreational beach at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will soon move up the coast more than 2 miles as part of a plan to safeguard the public facility from erosion and storm damage. The beach, which hosts more than 1 million vacationers each year, has historically been hit hard by storm surges and sea-level rise. Major storms such as hurricanes and nor'easters sporadically and dramatically move sand from the ocean-facing side of Assateague Island to its land-facing side, into inlets and bays and onto the shores of Chincoteague. And with the island approaching the mainland at a rate of approximately 10-13 feet per year, there's no room to continue to move facilities to the west. 'Moving the recreational beach to a more stable location north of the existing beach was the only available course of action that could conserve wildlife resources on the refuge, significantly reduce annual and long-term maintenance costs and protect the viability of the local economy,' said the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which owns and operates the refuge. The current recreational beach will remain open this summer and until the construction until the new beach is complete. Construction for the roads and parking areas begins this week and will continue through the fall of this year. Visitor amenities and routes to the beach will start construction in the fall, and those are expected to be finished in April 2026. Help could be on the way for Chincoteague water wells contaminated by PFAS Gray sand will remain in Virginia Beach for now as replenishment project paused over quality Dominion will restart its offshore wind project in May. Here's how whales will be protected. Once completed, the new beach will be about a mile long — similar to the size of the original beach — with parking spaces for 961 vehicles and RV space. Even with the shoreline movement, the service said the new location on the eastern side of the island could support the new recreational beach for at least 25 years. Common issues after storms on the East Coast include repeated damage to boardwalks and parking areas, which are prone to flood and destruction. Even in moderate storm systems like Winter Storm Jonas, which dumped more than 2 feet of snow on the East Coast in 2016, the beach's parking lot can be destroyed. Jonas caused $600,000 in damages and long-term closures, and according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, more than $15 million has been spent on storm recovery for the recreational beach since 2003. The relocation of the recreational beach is years in the making. In 2015, the project was included in the refuge's Comprehensive Conservation Plan. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service submitted grant proposals to fund the relocation, but those were unsuccessful. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration announced the $17.7 million award as part of its Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects Program. Funding for the program comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 'Once the new recreational beach facilities are completed and open, the current beach will be managed as natural beach, dune and saltmarsh habitats,' the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. 'We anticipate that working with nature will allow for the natural barrier island process to occur, creating habitat for threatened and at-risk species and offering protections to the local community from future storms.' Eliza Noe,
