EVs and crypto mining seen as emerging risks for U.S. power reliability

FILE PHOTO: An electric car charging station is seen in the parking garage of Union Station in Washington, U.S., September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File Photo

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The adoption of electric vehicles and rise of cryptocurrency mining pose emerging challenges to U.S. power reliability in upcoming years, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation said on Thursday.

More EVs, spurred by government policies such as the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, and energy-intensive mining of bitcoin will add demand on the nation's fragile electrical grid while power plant closures outpace the replacement of new capacity and severe weather intensifies, NERC said in its long-term reliability assessment.