Oil consumption soared in Massachusetts during the snowstorm to generate electricity

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright declared a statutory emergency on Sunday for the ISO New England power grid, which serves six states, including Massachusetts, due to a shortage of electricity and generating capacity amid a severe winter storm. At the request of the grid operator, Wright authorized an emergency order allowing certain generating plants to operate at maximum capacity until Saturday, January 31, regardless of weather conditions , in order to prevent blackouts.

Although the federal order aims to guarantee electricity supply during the winter storm, it fails to consider the environmental impact of relying on highly polluting fuels like oil. In a statement to State House News, Wright asserted that the previous administration's energy policies weakened the electrical grid, making Americans more vulnerable during extreme events like this. “Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure energy is non-negotiable,” the federal official declared.

At 12:45 pm on Monday , oil accounted for 33% of energy generated , followed by natural gas at 30% , nuclear power at 18% , renewables at 6% , and hydroelectricity at 6% . Within renewables, the breakdown was: 39% wind, 30% wood burning, 25% waste, 4% solar, and 2% landfill gas . By 9 am, natural gas had regained the lead with 39% , compared to 28% for oil .

Even before the storm hit the region on Sunday, New England's power grid was already increasingly reliant on polluting fuels like oil . With the arrival of extreme cold last week, oil usage jumped from 0% on Thursday to nearly 15% on Friday , according to ISO-NE data.

Although oil is typically a minor component of the regional energy mix, during prolonged cold spells like the one we just experienced, the demand for natural gas for heating increases, driving up its price. Faced with this scenario, some power plants opt to burn cheaper oil, a decision that increases carbon emissions and contradicts Massachusetts' goal of achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century .