How To Heal The Electricity Grid

Our electric power grid our the nation's circulatory system. Scientific American examines how to keep the nation healthy.

1 minute read

October 23, 2003, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The nation's electric power grid suffered a massive heart attack on the afternoon of August 14 when lights winked out from Ohio and Ontario to New York. Although no one knows precisely why a seemingly mundane local system failure cascaded so far, researchers have long seen tension in the grid and are pondering ways to minimize the chance of big blackouts."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Monday, October 3, 2005 in Scientific American

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

Two people on bikes riding toward downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota on Stone Arch Bridge.

How Bike-Friendly Is Your City?

PeopleForBikes just released its annual rankings.

15 minutes ago - Streetsblog USA

Large white banner with red letter reading "Space Available - Apts. for Rent - Call 898-0660" on brick building in Washington, D.C.

US Rents Squeezing Low-Income Tenants

Despite a recent — and slowing — apartment construction boom, renters at the lower end of the income scale are still struggling to find housing.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Person holding sign reading 'Rent Relief Now!' wearing blue face mask.

Tech Tools Help Tenants Push Back Against Problematic Landlords

Shelterforce found more than a dozen examples of tenant-serving technology that help renters identify landlords, respond to eviction, fight back against housing discrimination, and more.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine