POLITICO Energy How the New Orleans power outages could boost Trump’s fossil fuel push
May 29, 2025
Cat Morehouse, an energy reporter and author of Morning Energy for POLITICO, dives into the recent power outages affecting 100,000 residents in New Orleans. She discusses how this crisis raises questions about grid reliability and could fortify Trump’s fossil fuel agenda. The conversation highlights challenges faced by nuclear plants, the impact of climate change on energy demand, and the Department of Energy's push to keep coal plants operational. It's a compelling look at the intersection of energy policy and real-world power struggles.
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New Orleans Rolling Blackouts Explained
- Around 100,000 people in New Orleans faced forced rolling blackouts due to grid operator actions and nuclear plant outages.
- Slightly warmer weather increased demand, highlighting grid vulnerabilities as summer heat approaches.
Why Utilities Use Forced Blackouts
- Rolling blackouts are a last resort to prevent catastrophic grid failure when demand nears or exceeds supply.
- Climate change extremes, plant retirements, and demand growth worsen grid reliability nationwide.
Outages Bolster Fossil Fuel Arguments
- Recent outages boost the Trump administration's push to keep coal plants running for grid reliability.
- While other solutions exist, the administration emphasizes aging fossil fuel plants to avoid blackouts.