(Briefing) Understanding Power Grid Reliability: What It Means for Clinton County Residents
- Thomas Breckel
- Nov 10
- 4 min read
Why Power Grid Reliability Matters
Electricity powers nearly every part of our daily lives — from heating our homes and keeping food cold to running medical equipment and cell towers. Most of us don’t think twice when the lights come on — until they don’t.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a report warning that parts of the nation’s electric grid could become less reliable between now and 2030. While Clinton County residents don’t need to be alarmed, it’s important to understand what’s changing and how it could affect our area in the years ahead.This is not an emergency, but it’s worth factoring into your family’s preparedness plan.
👉 DOE Report (link)
👉 Briefing: Understanding Power Grid Reliability
National Overview
Across the country, older power plants are retiring faster than new, dependable ones are being built. Here’s what the DOE found:
About 104 gigawatts (GW) of existing generation — mostly coal and natural gas — are expected to retire by 2030.
Only about 22 gigawatts (GW) of new, always-available replacement generation are planned.
That means for every five units of power going offline, only one new unit is being added.
Electricity use is increasing due to new manufacturing, data centers, and advanced technology.
This imbalance doesn’t mean the lights will suddenly go out — but it does reduce the “cushion” that helps the grid handle sudden stress from extreme heat, deep freezes, or large storms.
How the Power Grid Works
The electric grid is a complex system that must stay perfectly balanced every second of every day. It has three main parts:
Generation: Power plants produce electricity using coal, gas, nuclear, solar, hydro, or wind.
Transmission: High-voltage lines move electricity long distances to local substations.
Distribution: Local utilities — like AES Ohio, Duke Energy, and South Central Power — deliver power to homes and businesses.
In Ohio and much of the eastern United States, these systems are coordinated by PJM Interconnection, a regional organization that ensures power supply meets demand across 13 states. PJM’s role is like the air-traffic controller of the electric grid — keeping thousands of moving parts synchronized in real time.
Why the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest Are a Focus Area
The DOE report identified the Mid-Atlantic region (which includes Ohio) as an area of exceptional concern for future grid reliability. Here’s why:
Many older, large power plants are retiring permanently.
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are expanding but depend on weather and have limited storage.
Massive growth in data centers, AI computing, and new factories is increasing energy demand.
Building new transmission lines takes years of approvals and construction.
As these trends continue, the grid’s ability to handle surges or long-duration weather events becomes more strained — especially during peak heating or cooling seasons.
What This Means for Clinton County
Clinton County’s power has been very reliable, and that remains true today.
Most local outages come from severe weather, ice, or strong winds, not national grid issues.
However, if a major regional event affects several states, local power restoration may take longer than usual.
Our utilities maintain mutual-aid agreements to bring in extra crews quickly when needed.
There’s no current threat specific to Clinton County, but planning for short-term outages is still smart — especially as the national system becomes more strained.
Practical Power-Outage Tips
Here are easy, low-cost ways to protect your home and make limited power go further if the lights go out:
Food & Freezer Readiness
Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible.
A full freezer will keep food cold for about 48 hours; a refrigerator for about 4 hours.
Consolidate food into one unit to help it stay cold longer.
Use wireless thermometers to monitor internal temperatures.
Refrigerator food should stay below 40°F.
Freezer food should stay below 0°F.
If you have a generator or power bank, run it only long enough to bring temperatures back down — then shut it off to save fuel.
Safe Generator Use
Never use a generator indoors or in a garage.
Keep it at least 20 feet away from windows and doors.
Run only critical items like a fridge, medical device, or small heater.
Other Smart Steps
Keep flashlights, batteries, and phone power banks charged.
Have 3–5 days of non-perishable food and bottled water on hand.
Check on elderly neighbors or anyone using powered medical equipment.
Sign up for Clinton County Emergency Alerts (CCEA) to get verified outage and safety updates.
Looking Ahead to 2030
The national energy picture is shifting, but improvements are also on the way:
New transmission lines and battery storage systems are being developed to balance renewable energy.
Grid operators are planning new natural gas and hybrid renewable facilities across the Midwest.
Local efforts — like community microgrids and backup generation projects — can keep essential services powered during emergencies.
For Clinton County, these developments mean we’re well-positioned to adapt — especially if residents stay informed and maintain basic preparedness.
In Summary
Right now: The grid is stable and working as it should.
The trend: Older plants are retiring faster than new ones are being built, tightening reliability margins.
Locally: Severe weather is still our biggest outage threat, not national grid failure.
Your role: Keep simple backup supplies and know how to protect your food and family during short-term outages.
Power grid reliability is everyone’s business. It affects our hospitals, grocery stores, water systems, and communication networks. Staying informed helps Clinton County stay strong, connected, and ready for the future.
Stay Connected
For verified updates, follow:
Facebook: Clinton County EMA
Website: www.cc-ema.org
Text Alerts: Sign up for Clinton County Emergency Alerts (CCEA) at www.cc-ema.org/alerts