Europe's Wind Power Push: A Chilly Reality Check

Europe has been trying to cut down on foreign energy for years. They've had some success, mostly because high prices made people use less. But now, nine European countries are planning to build a massive 100 GW offshore wind power capacity. They want to make their own electricity instead of relying on imports like natural gas. Meanwhile, the U. S. is dealing with a harsh winter. In New England, oil is suddenly making up a third of their electricity, sometimes even 40%. Wind and solar? They're only contributing about 6%. In Texas, the grid operator knew wind power would barely work in the cold. So, they're using gas, nuclear, and even coal to meet the high demand.This shows that reliable energy sources are crucial, especially in emergencies. Wind and solar can't provide constant power, even with batteries or interconnectors. Europe's plan makes sense because they don't produce much of their own energy. Germany has some coal, but they're not using it much. Instead, they're importing a lot of gas from the U. S. Starting next year, Europe will import even more U. S. gas. They've banned Russian gas, but some countries like Hungary and Slovakia depend on it. The U. S. wants to sell more energy, but Europe is worried. They fear a future U. S. president might use energy exports as a weapon. Some people say Europe's dependence on U. S. gas is mutual. U. S. producers need European buyers, but Europe has few alternatives. Building more wind power might not be the best solution. Long-term deals with different suppliers might be a better way to secure energy.