The deep freeze that afflicted the center of the US last week caused massive power outages in Texas and surrounding states. The plight of millions without power and heat captured the headlines and attracted world-wide attention.

What little discussion there was of shortages at gasoline stations and of natural gas outages, was in the context of the power outages. (The gas stations couldn’t pump fuel due to power outages, and natural gas is the leading fuel for generating electricity nationwide, including in Texas.)

It is the largest source of energy used by American consumers and businesses—larger than oil.  And it’s especially important for US families — nearly 3 times bigger than the next-largest (non-transport) source of energy for US households (natural gas).

Electricity is the new oil when it comes to security. Policymakers in Washington and other world capitals have spent 50 years worrying about how to manage oil supply disruptions. But the immediacy of power outages and the ubiquity of critical elements of modern life powered by electricity mean the impact of oil supply disruptions are a walk in the park compared with our power vulnerabilities. And our dependence on electricity and our vulnerability to disruptions are rising.  It is critical that we recognize that our national security – and a successful climate policy – both depend on building a more a robust and resilient power system.  (And this is from a guy who has spent 35 years working on oil & security!)

Source: “For Energy Security, Power Is The New Oil”, Forbes