Fallen power lines are seen on the Pacific Coast Highway as thousands of structures were reduced to rubble by four Southern California wildfires in Los Angeles in January 2025. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Extreme weather is posing a growing threat to the power supplies Americans rely on.
In 2021, a fierce winter storm left millions of Texans without electricity and water for days. Hurricane Helene in 2024 knocked out power to about 5 million customers across the U.S. Southeast.
Beyond the immediate human and economic toll, major blackouts like these often leave behind the same unsettling contrast: One region goes dark while nearby places still have power.
This raises a question: If electricity is still available somewhere nearby, why can't it be sent where it is needed most?
