Power Outages and Grid Failure Across the Southeast Are the Result of Trump’s Policies
Washington, DC – Winter Storm Fern has killed at least 17 people and caused more than one million people in Tennessee, Mississippi, and across the South to experience power outages. The widespread power outages leaving families without heat during the extreme cold are the direct result of Donald Trump’s policy choices. Trump’s war on clean energy has canceled or stalled critical investments designed to modernize the power grid and expand our domestic energy supply — which would have protected Americans during this weekend’s extreme cold and winter storms.
Climate Power Senior Advisor Mia Logan issued the following statement: “As record freezing temperatures sweep the nation, no family should be left without heat. Trump’s attacks on clean energy are weakening the grid and making winter storms more dangerous, forcing millions of Americans to face unnecessary risk, power outages, and soaring utility bills. Rather than leading our country during this time of crisis, Trump is focused on his next unlawful invasion and spreading misinformation about climate science. While Trump puts his oil and gas donors first, American families are paying a devastating price.”
Trump’s war on clean energy has weakened the grid and left Americans vulnerable to power outages during the winter storm:
- Trump’s attacks on clean energy have threatened or canceled enough clean energy projects to power 13.5 million homes, taking affordable energy options off the table just as heating and electricity costs are surging nationwide.
- In Texas, wind and solar power were critical to strengthening the grid and keeping power on for many families over the weekend.
- Trump fired the entire staff of the federal Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), threatening and delaying critical assistance, and making it harder for vulnerable Americans to heat their homes.
- Natural gas supply chains are prone to freezes and mechanical failure in extreme cold, leading to grid disruptions and power outages. When these systems fail, power plants are often forced offline at the very moment electricity demand spikes for heating.
- The rise of AI data centers has increased demand for electricity, putting even more strain on already outdated grid structures and increasing the risk of blackouts during winter storms.