Dori: Losing control? Brownouts, blackouts, electric vehicle mandates, and keeping cool

Do you like your car? And the settings on your thermostat?

Enjoy them now, because if trends in California, Texas, and Colorado are any indication, Washingtonians may be losing personal control over their transportation and even home-climate choices.

Just this week, California officials announced through the state’s “flex alert” system that the power grid is not able to handle powering up chargers for electric vehicles. In fact, there are serious concerns that a current heat wave in that state could cause brownouts and blackouts for communities with heavy-use appliances – including refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners.

Electricity users in Texas are facing similar warnings. Officials there are telling electric

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