Record-breaking heat forces New England, USA, to burn oil for power generation to keep the grid running

This once again highlights that the region's fragile energy structure may further exacerbate environmental pollution during frequent extreme weather events. Earlier on May 20th, power generated by oil-fired plants in the area surpassed 700 megawatts, enough to supply electricity to about 500,000 households. Just a few hours prior, the local grid operator, ISO New England, had announced an "Abnormal conditions" status for the grid, urgently warning power plant operators to immediately halt any routine equipment maintenance that might reduce power output. Expand