It’s not only Texas that’s feeling the heat; power grids nationwide are struggling to maintain cooling amidst sweltering temperatures.
Recently, MISO, the grid operator serving 15 states and part of Canada, issued a warning regarding high energy usage, extreme temperatures, and “additional resource uncertainty.” Similarly, PJM Interconnection LLC—the largest electric grid operator in the U.S., covering all or parts of 13 states—declared a “level one emergency.”
These challenges facing power grids are not mere coincidences; they serve as a stark reminder that our national energy systems are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.
At Freedom Solar, headquartered in Texas, we witness these challenges firsthand. Currently, we are experiencing a relentless heatwave filled with consecutive triple-digit days. However, we’ve also faced harsh winters, including the 2021 freeze that incapacitated power plants and gas infrastructure, as well as icy storms in 2023 that left communities in the dark.
The extremes of both summer and winter highlight the shifting landscape of the energy sector and emphasize our ability to adapt. Freedom Solar is rapidly expanding—not only in Texas but also in states like Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. In every market we enter, it’s clear that homeowners and businesses are increasingly vulnerable to strained power grids and the exorbitant bills associated with them.
By harnessing solar energy, consumers can generate power during peak demand periods when electricity costs soar. Investing in large battery systems, such as the Tesla Powerwall, allows them to store energy when it is abundant and affordable, using it later to power their homes, charge devices, and maintain essential appliances during expensive or unavailable electricity periods. Many of our clients relied on this strategy to weather the ice storms in Austin this past winter, saving money and guarding against outages this summer.
It’s time for Americans to harness the sun’s plentiful energy and forge a more resilient, sustainable energy future.
While repeated calls for conservation may seem repetitive, they function as vital calls to action. As power grids risk becoming more fragile and weather patterns are expected to grow more extreme, one constant remains: the sun.
Let’s embrace solar energy and work towards a more resilient energy landscape for ourselves and future generations.