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Electric grid

California blackouts trigger debate about electric grid resilience

by Andy Uhler
Aug 28, 2020
A heat wave and record levels of electricity demand are straining infrastructure.
Investments in grids were already falling, and COVID-19 has slowed down upgrades even further.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images
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Weather Economy

Getting power back to millions in Florida won't be easy

by Kai Ryssdal and Scott Tong
Sep 11, 2017
The country has a 100-year-old grid system and more frequent extreme storms, reporter Scott Tong says. Will the state "build back better"?
A couple walks through the flooded streets of Naples, Florida, today. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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Thousands of Texans are still in the dark

by Aaron Schrank
Aug 30, 2017
First, Tropical Storm Harvey knocked down power lines in the Corpus Christi area, then flooding hit the grid in Houston. Thousands of workers are trying to get the lights back on, but it’s complicated. Click the audio player above to hear the full story.
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Portable solar units fill the electric charging void

by Jed Kim
Mar 27, 2017
It could take years to build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Meanwhile, options exist.
The EV Arc is a solar array that charges electric vehicles, providing as much as 220 miles' worth of electricity each day.
Jed Kim/Marketplace
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Utility companies to stockpile $8 million spare parts in case of disaster

by Scott Tong
Apr 8, 2016
Spare transformers are expensive to keep around, so several utility providers start a new company to fill that role.
Transmission lines on May 7, 2015 in Joliet, Illinois. 
Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Six Routes

The "side business" phenomenon in Nigeria

by Nkem Ifejika
Feb 19, 2015
Turning your 5 to 9 job into a global business, the Nigerian way.
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