Ecuador’s energy crisis deepens as drought halts hydropower production

Ecuador’s reliance on hydroelectric power has collided with a severe drought, causing daily blackouts and significant economic and social disruptions.

Julie Turkewitz and José María León Cabrera report for The New York Times.

In short:

Ecuador faces up to 14-hour daily blackouts due to drought draining rivers and reservoirs, crippling the hydroelectric-dependent power grid.
The outages have disrupted businesses, schools and basic services, with losses estimated at $12 million per hour of power cuts.
Experts warn that climate change will make hydropower less reliable, urging diversification into alternative energy sources like wind and solar.

Key quote:

The principal problem was the country’s "excessive focus on hydroelectric energy," which "left the system extremely vulnerable to climate change phenomena.”

— Lenin Moreno, former president of Ecuador

Why this matters:

Ecuador’s crisis underscores the risks of over-reliance on hydropower as climate change intensifies droughts. Vulnerable nations must prepare for water shortages with diversified energy sources to protect their economies and communities.

Learn more: Hydropower's challenges and opportunities amid climate change

www.nytimes.com

Ecuador’s energy crisis deepens as drought halts hydropower production

How Florida ties localities’ hands on everything from environmental regulation to worker protections

Opinion: We have a climate imagination problem

How Saudi oil scientists ended up working on the world’s most important climate reports

Judge says US EPA illegally canceled $7B solar program

Nepal’s Gen Z is taking on the world’s polluters over climate disasters

Tribes hit hard by wildfires face health effects, cultural losses

Climate super-pollutant from China’s electric grid is cooking the planet

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.