Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Releases Report on America's Regional Vulnerabilities to Climate Change

Press Release

While visiting California, a state plagued by persistent drought and dangerous wildfires, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz today released an Energy Department report that examines the expected regional energy sector vulnerabilities to climate change. The report divides the United States into nine regions, finding that the severe challenges from climate change across America will require a more comprehensive and accelerated national, regional and community approach to keep the U.S. energy system reliable and safe. The report also notes the important efforts to improve climate resilience in each region to handle the new weather extremes and other impacts from climate change.

To highlight the challenges and opportunities found in the report, later today Secretary Moniz will join Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to visit an L.A. fire station that will soon be outfitted with a new solar energy and battery storage backup energy system. The Southwest section of the report details how the regional energy system, including power lines north of Los Angeles, are vulnerable to wildfires that could increase due to climate change.

"In recent years, record temperatures, droughts, and floods have damaged energy infrastructure and disrupted energy systems, affecting American families and businesses across the country," said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. "To address the harsh impacts of climate change and extreme weather, we need innovative solutions that will make our energy sector more resilient, more flexible, and more efficient, as we build a cleaner, more climate-friendly energy system."

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