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Nationwide Blackout ‘Not A Question Of If, But When,’ Expert Tells Congress
Image source: NOAA
A catastrophic failure of America’s electrical power grid because of a solar flare, sabotage or cyberattack is highly likely, experts told House members this month.
Two subcommittees of the House’s Committee on Science, Space and Technology heard testimony that confirmed many of our worst fears about the grid’s weaknesses.
Massive solar storms could cause widespread power blackouts, disable most electrical devices and result in $2 trillion in losses to the nation’s economy, Daniel Baker, a professor of planetary and space physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder, told the subcommittees.
“The occurrence of severe space weather impacting our nation’s infrastructure is not a question of if, but when,” Baker said, according to USA Today.
US Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Florida) said the situation is dire.
“Our electrical system is under constant stress from severe weather, malicious acts, and age,” Grayson said. “The stress on the system is constantly increasing as we dramatically change how we want to use the grid now, versus what it was designed to do, when it was built.”
The electrical grid was simply not designed to withstand the threats it faces today, including from terrorism and cyberattacks, Grayson and others said. Many of the components are increasingly old, obsolete, worn out and overworked.
Source: http://www.offthegridnews.com/current-events/nationwide-blackout-not-a-question-of-if-but-when-expert-tells-congress/
Here is a bit of breaking news for you. I have a family member who is graduating from college with an electrical engineering degree in Dec. of this year. So I ask, “What are the utility companies doing (cause he has done a lot of work and had a lot of classes with our local electric co) to shore up our grid against EMP?”
He gives me this blank look for about five seconds and says, “What do you mean, EMP?” I fill him in…..and still I get the blank look….he doesn’t understand how the sun could affect the earth….I explain the Carrington Event….still….I get the look…..then he says….”Well….that was old fashioned wire…..I’m sure we have better wire than that now. But I have never heard anyone discuss what your talking about in class…..so….it’s fine.”
Just as a side note…..the individual I had the above conversation with…..is a hard core tea party member. He approached me later in the day …..screaming at me about how “Stupid you are to believe in that climate fraud BS!”