Electricity demand surges while U.S. shutters reliable power sources. America follows Europe’s blackout-prone energy path

A large swath of the United States is facing a heightened risk of blackouts this summer, a perennial danger as electricity use soars and extreme weather tests the nation’s aging power grid, according to the regulatory authority that monitors the electricity system.

The seasonal electricity forecast warns that regional power grids extending from the Upper Midwest south through Texas may lack the power needed to meet all customer needs in the event of prolonged periods of high temperatures.