Power Outages Linked to Heat and Storms are Rising, and Low-Income Communities are Most at Risk, NYC Maps Show the Impact

Photo by natsuki

Many Americans think of power outages as infrequent inconveniences, but that’s quickly changing. Nationwide, major power outages have increased tenfold since 1980, largely because of an aging electrical grid and damage sustained from severe storms as the planet warms.

At the same time, electricity demand is rising as the population grows and an increasing number of people use electricity to cool and heat their homes, cook their meals and power their cars. A growing...