As the United States pursues a transition to cleaner energy sources grid executives are sounding the alarm about the growing risk of blackouts in the coming years. Leaders of four regional power grid organizations recently warned that without policies to manage the shift from fossil fuels to renewables and advanced technologies the nation’s electricity system could face widespread reliability issues by the end of the decade.

“What keeps me up at night is the winter of 2032,” said Richard Dewey CEO of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) at an industry conference. He noted that by then New York’s backup generation resources will be depleted even as power demand from AI data centers electric vehicles and home heating soars.

The warnings reflect the complex challenges facing the power sector as it navigates an unprecedented transition. While government spending and incentives have spurred investment in green technologies the shift away from coal and natural gas is outpacing the development of replacement generation and transmission infrastructure.

Grid operators highlight the particular vulnerability during winter months when solar output drops. Recent winter storms have exposed the fragility of gas supply highlighting the risks of over-reliance on a single fuel source.

Compounding the challenge is the explosive growth in electricity demand driven by factors like the adoption of electric vehicles and the rise of power-hungry data centers. Grid operators say they are scrambling to keep pace with these rapidly evolving dynamics.

Some critics argue that power companies should invest more in customer-side energy conservation to help manage peak demand. However, grid officials maintain that the urgent priority is ensuring sufficient electricity supply to keep the lights on.

Experts say reaching President Biden’s goal of a carbon-free power grid by 2035 will require a major leap, one that may be impossible and could cause a lot of very uncomfortable conditions for citizens.