As scorching temperatures sweep across the Southeast, the Trump administration has issued an emergency order to stave off potential blackouts—offering a stark reminder of the fragility of the nation’s energy grid after years of neglect under green-first policies.

On Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) greenlit an emergency directive that allows Duke Energy Carolinas to operate certain electricity units at maximum output through Wednesday night. The order comes amid soaring demand as millions blast their air conditioning units to beat the relentless heat. According to officials, this move is part of a broader Trump strategy to stabilize the country’s strained grid and secure affordable, uninterrupted power for American homes and businesses.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright stressed the importance of action before disaster strikes. “As electricity demand reaches its peak, Americans should not be forced to wonder if their power grid can support their homes and businesses,” Wright said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy will use all tools available to maintain a reliable, affordable, and secure energy system for the American people.”

Duke Energy—which serves customers in Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, and both Carolinas—faces increasing challenges as energy demand spikes during the summer months. The emergency authorization is the second of its kind in a month. Back in May, the DOE had to keep a Michigan coal plant running to prevent outages, a decision vindicated when New Orleans, within the same grid region, suffered a large blackout just days later.

The warning signs are piling up. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), an independent grid watchdog, recently issued an assessment warning that four major U.S. grid operators are at elevated risk of failing to meet demand this summer if heatwaves worsen or other stressors emerge.

Experts have pointed to a concerning trend: the rush to retire coal and nuclear plants in favor of intermittent renewable energy has weakened baseline supply. NERC’s 2024 report and studies from Always On Energy Research have both flagged that power shortfalls may become common in several regions within a few years unless policy is reversed.

Critics say the crisis is largely a product of former President Joe Biden’s energy agenda, which heavily favored solar and wind while choking out reliable fuel sources through regulation. “We warned about this,” said one energy analyst familiar with the NERC data. “This isn’t a climate issue—it’s a supply issue.”

Trump, for his part, began his second term by declaring a national energy emergency, slashing red tape for fossil fuel development, and calling for a revival of domestic coal and nuclear infrastructure. Energy Secretary Wright has echoed that approach, repeatedly stating that “reliable” sources—not just “green” ones—must be the backbone of America’s grid.

Still, while the emergency order may bring short-term relief, it also highlights a long-term crisis. As this week’s scorching heat continues to grip the East Coast, Americans are left wondering just how close they’ve come to losing power—and what might happen next time the grid hits its breaking point.

Duke Energy has not commented publicly on the emergency order, but the message from Washington is clear: this summer could be a defining test for the nation’s energy security—and the Trump administration plans to face it head-on.