NASA-funded researchers say a flurry of solar storms from March 8-10, 2012 dumped
enough energy in Earth's upper atmosphere (our thermosphere absorbed 26
billion kWh of energy) to power every residence in New York City for two
years as recorded by the SABER instrument onboard NASA's TIMED
satellite. This energy temporarily increases the drag on low-orbiting
satellites, which decreases their lifetime by bringing them closer to
the day of re-entry. There is a plus side; extra drag helps clear space
junk out of Earth orbit.