This sweltering summer of 2028 will go down in history for more than its searing temperatures. California and Texas, two states that pride themselves on their tech-driven economies, are grappling with a crisis that seems more out of a dystopian novel than real life. The massive demand for electricity, driven by our modern lifestyles and innovative technologies, has led to debilitating blackouts, leaving millions without power.

Five years ago, Elon Musk foretold this situation when he warned, “It’s just, everything is going to be electric. My biggest concern is that there’s insufficient urgency.” As electricity became the lifeblood for an array of modern essentials, from electric cars to air conditioning, heat pumps, 3D printing, and vast data centers, Musk’s prediction has become our reality.

The painstakingly slow shift to renewable energy sources, while commendable in theory, fell short in practice. Despite the plentiful sun and wind resources available in both California and Texas, the infrastructure to harness, store, and distribute this power remains woefully inadequate.

Regulatory obstacles, supply chain interruptions, and rocketing costs of critical materials have all contributed to the delay. But fundamental to the crisis has been the power companies’ lack of foresight and inability to keep up with the speed at which our society is electrifying.

The great blackout of 2028 underscores the urgency of bridging the gap in our electricity infrastructure. It calls for a multifaceted response: a swift push for renewable energy projects, improved energy storage solutions, grid redesigns to accommodate decentralized power sources, and stringent energy efficiency measures.

As we inch towards Musk’s predicted tripling of electricity demand by 2045, we have to face the reality of our electricity-dependent future. If we can’t adapt our infrastructure quickly enough to prevent these blackouts, there will be many more dark days ahead.