The United Kingdom and the U.S. Northeast may have something in common going into next winter—a possible energy shortage. Both countries are closing existing power plants—coal-fired and nuclear—in favor of renewable and natural gas generating technologies. In the United States, the Independent System Operator in New England has warned that generating capacity is extremely tight with the future closure of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and several coal-fired power plants in Massachusetts. Likewise, in the UK, 8,200 megawatts of coal-fired power plants have been shuttered, with an additional 13,000 megawatts at risk over the next 5 years. The UK’s energy regulator is worried that the amount of capacity over peak demand next year will be just 2 percent—a very scary low amount for those charged with keeping the lights on.
