I don\u2019t think many Americans appreciate just how tense and tenuous, how very touch and go the energy situation in Europe is right now.<\/p>\n
For months, as news of the Ukraine war receded a bit, it was possible to follow the energy story unfolding across the Atlantic and still assume an uncomfortable but familiar-enough winter in Europe, characterized primarily by high prices.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, the prospects have begun to look darker. In early August the European Union\u00a0approved a request<\/a>\u00a0that member states reduce gas consumption by 15 percent \u2014 quite a large request and one that several\u00a0initially balked at<\/a>. In Spain, facing record-breaking heat wave after record-breaking heat wave at the height of the country\u2019s tourist season, the government\u00a0announced restrictions<\/a>\u00a0on commercial air-conditioning, which may not be set below 27 degrees Celsius, or about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In France, an Associated Press article said, \u201curban guerrillas\u201d are\u00a0taking to the streets<\/a>, shutting off storefront lights to reduce energy consumption. In the Netherlands a campaign called Flip the Switch is asking residents to limit showers to five minutes and to drop air-conditioning and clothes dryers entirely. Belgium has\u00a0reversed<\/a>\u00a0plans to retire nuclear power plants, and Germany, having\u00a0ruled out<\/a>\u00a0the possibility of such a turnabout in June, is now\u00a0considering it<\/a>\u00a0as well.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s been a gradual and growing recognition that we are headed into the worst global energy crisis at least since the 1970s and perhaps longer than that.\u201d\u2014\u2066@JasonBordoff<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/gSipgPuVru<\/a><\/p>\n — David Wallace-Wells (@dwallacewells) August 10, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n