Tacit

To achieve our ambitions in AI and domestic manufacturing, we need as much electricity as possible. This means we need to keep all forms of power generation going - if we step back in production even one inch, we will create big problems. This is because the existing U.S. electrical grid faces a dual crisis of deteriorating infrastructure and a shrinking skilled workforce. The grid's infrastructure is aging rapidly, with 70% of transmission lines over 25 years old and power transformers averaging more than 40 years in service – an age when failure becomes more common. This aging system needs extensive maintenance and replacement to maintain reliability, yet the technical workforce needed for this work is diminishing at the same time. About 25% of utility workers became eligible for retirement between 2017-2022, creating an experience gap where 56% of utility workers now have less than a decade of experience. The consequences are becoming apparent – in 2021, the average U.S. customer experienced 7.5 hours of electric service interruption, while the North American Electric Reliability Corporation warns that 19 states could face rolling blackouts during normal peak conditions within five years if these issues aren't addressed. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates a $578 billion investment shortfall by 2033 to meet basic reliability and capacity needs.