Why the U.S. Uses Only Half of Its Grid Capacity
Bias ratings based on AllSides + Ad Fontes Media. Agreement % = sources covering this story. Always read multiple sources and think critically.
Emily Waltz is the power and energy editor at IEEE Spectrum.
Ian Magruder says that a host of new technologies could help the U.S. better use its grid capacity. By most accounts, the United States appears poised to fall woefully short of meeting new electricity demand over the next five years as data centers and domestic manufacturing proliferate.
Ian Magruder is the founder of Utilize Coalition and previously served as director of market mobilization at Rewiring America, an affordable electrification advocacy group. Building new power plants and transmission lines may seem like the obvious solution, but there are other options, says Ian Magruder, founder of Utilize Coalition, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. uses only about half of its grid capacity, and a lot more power could be tapped by deploying a spate of newly available technologies.
Backed by Google, Tesla, HVAC systems manufacturer Carrier, and several other companies, Utilize Coalition advocates for more thorough use of grid capacity through policy change and new technologies. Magruder spoke with IEEE Spectrum about those efforts. Why does the United States use only half of its grid?
Ian Magruder: Most studies have found that average utilization rates are between 40 and 55 percent across different geographies. And the reason is that we’ve built our grid to meet peak demand. We have to ensure that on the hottest summer day or the coldest winter morning we have enough power.
But in many parts of the country, we really only hit peak a few days a year, and it’s really only a few specific hours within those days. Magruder: Over the last 20 years we’ve seen the gap between average use and peak use grow wider. There are a variety of reasons for that.
Grid operators have become more conservative following major blackouts and reliability events. And with more variable-generation sources such as wind and solar, grid operators are building in more capacity. But this also presents us with an incredible opportunity to get more out of the grid using new technologies.
Think About This
What questions does this story raise for you? Talk with your family: Why does this news matter? Who is affected? What might happen next? Is there anything you can do?
- Ask your child: “What do you think scientists discovered about uses only? What part surprised you most?”
- Explore together: Search for “uses only” on NASA Kids’ Club, DK Find Out, or National Geographic Kids for more kid-friendly facts.
- Critical thinking: Science findings can change as more research is done. Ask: “How would scientists test this? What would prove them wrong?”
KiddieDaily is built for families — balanced sources, no agenda, no ads. Always read the original source and think for yourself.
Original Sources
🔍 Want to verify this story? Check it on Google Fact Check Explorer →
More stories: Kid News · Archive · Fact Check