The high temperatures and humidity that the Tri-State Area has experienced during the past several weeks has led to many households cranking up the air conditioning and using plenty of electricity. And when you combine household need with that of Ohio’s industrial energy consumers, you reach the point where PJM Interconnection is advising the strain on our electrical grid may be too great.

“At the current pace, we are projecting a shortfall of energy,” said David Souder, executive director of PJM operations, according to a report by WBNS-TV in Columbus.

In fact, Souder said another heat wave could lead the system to experience reserve shortfalls. That means PJM has had to come up with a plan.

At the same time, PJM is advising plans to retire some aging power plants must be put on hold. This comes at a time when our region needs all the electricity it can get, and PJM plays a role in making that happen. It is the regional transmission organization that serves more than 65 million customers from Chicago to New Jersey, including all of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. That makes it the largest power grid operator in the United States.

It stands to reason, then, that officials should also be looking at an immediate all-of-the-above approach when it comes to electricity. Renewable options that have run into politically fueled resistance should be a part of the mix of power generation.

Wind, solar and nuclear generation can be ways to take some of the load off of oil-, natural gas- and coal-fired power plants.

If Ohio genuinely hopes to be the home of large employers such as Intel or other electricity-hungry companies without sacrificing the wellbeing of its residents, we are going to have to plan for electricity usage that is simply not possible now.