10 years after blackout, U.S. grid faces new threats

10 years after blackout, U.S. grid faces new threats | The Detroit News:
"One-sixth of the existing coal capacity is projected to close by 2020, .....The permanent closure of four nuclear reactors in California, Florida and Wisconsin was announced this year, and reactors in New York, Vermont and elsewhere may also close.

Plant shutdowns mean there’s less of a cushion in electrical capacity when power demand is high or problems arise.
Shutdowns also create pockets of transmission congestion or regions where power is scarce.
Both situations drive up power prices for customers, make the grid less stable and present planning challenges."