Government, Industry Studying Threat of Nuclear EMP Attack on Electric Grid

freebeacon.com ^ | 5/19/2016 | Bill Gertz

[rktman]

American power companies are studying ways to protect electric grids against a high-altitude nuclear blast and other directed energy attacks that could severely disrupt electricity transmission, an industry representative told a Senate hearing Wednesday.

Scott Aaronson, managing director for cyber and infrastructure security at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), stated in testimony that a consortium of U.S. electric companies is working with the Energy Department to study how to protect power grids from a nuclear blast-produced electromagnetic pulse attack or solar flares that could damage transformers and other electric components and shut down power for millions of Americans.

“There are a lot of threats to the grid … from squirrels to nation states,” Aaronson said in testimony to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “And frankly, there have been more blackouts as a result of squirrels [gnawing wire insulation] than there are from nation states.”

The hearing was called to examine threats to critical infrastructure ranging from cyber attacks and criminal activities to terrorist sabotage and nation state nuclear attacks.

Aaronson, whose institute represents all investor-owned U.S. electric companies, said in testimony that electromagnetic pulse is a concern and could be caused by a high-altitude nuclear blast or a directed energy weapon.

[rktman]

Barn door----horse. Squirrels are local. "Nation state" deployed EMP devices are not local. EMP available in, what 30 to 45 minutes? Unless we have a missile defense system to take out inbound................might offend someone? Hardening the grid? 20 years?

[GT Vander]

Way back in the early 80’s I was part of the old RDF, (Rapid Deployment Force), we got monthly sit-rep briefings even back then. Many of the “opening shot” scenarios began with the detonation of a FOB Nuke (Fractionally Orbital Bomb) configured for max EMP impact somewhere over the center of the US.

Here were are more than 30 years later and we're still more than vulnerable to such an attack.

[bicyclerepair]

I keep all my comm gear in metal boxes. Biggest box (a cool old Westinghouse electrical box with old fashioned knobs and switches on it) is grounded.

Hey, whether necessary or not, can not hurt.

[rktman]

Hey now. Studies take time. We wouldn’t want to jump to any conclusions that might impact the economy. Kinda like the glow bull weather fluctuation study right. Oh, wait................ Just think if “they” had used all the money wasted on weather to actually harden our grid system. I think I’m gonna build a faraday cage around my house.

[jagusafr]

There’s been a joint military-civilian exercise in Texas for years that deals with precisely these scenarios. Not sure why Gertz thinks this is something new, but I have pretty high regard for his reporter’s nose and his sources.

[null and void]

Not to worry, they’re going to study the problem.

Again.

And again.

And again.

and again...

[Buckeye McFrog]

“There are a lot of threats to the grid … from squirrels to nation states,”

And when those squirrels get the bomb, it'll be LIGHTS OUT!

[Ancesthntr]

“There are a lot of threats to the grid … from squirrels to nation states,”

---

And when those squirrels get the bomb, it’ll be LIGHTS OUT!

---

You have to watch out for them - they have big brass ones, and that with very little to back it up. This morning, I was driving the kids to school, and sitting there in the middle of the road was a squirrel. He/she was standing up at full height, just looking and looking and looking at my car as all 3,800 pounds of it came rolling toward it. Damned thing didn’t move until the last second - like I said, big brass ones! Yeah, don’t give them nukes, they’ll be worse than the Moose Limbs.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Government? No faith in them. Industry? They have faith the government will bail them out.

[Ancesthntr]

Hopefully, this will actually be addressed by President Trump and his VP or Chief of Staff, Newt Gingrich (who authored the forward on a well-known book on EMP).
http://www.amazon.com/One-Second-After-William-Forstchen/dp/0765356864/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463752581&sr=1-1&keywords=one+second+after

Apparently, it won’t take much more than about $20 billion to harden the power plants, and if they are kept up and running, then any EMP will have limited (though still severe) effects. If they are knocked out, then it is game over.

Also, something HAS to be done about the nuke plants - from what I understand (and I may be wrong, and hope that I am), the power to circulate the cooling water is drawn from an external source - i.e. not from the plant itself - so that if that source is cut off, and the diesel generators run out of fuel, then there’s no cooling and the plant goes super-critical shortly thereafter...and we have 400 nukes in this country, 400 potential Fukashimas.

Rest assured, Clinton will do NOTHING about this, guaranteed. Those #NeverTrump folks still out there should think about this when deciding what to do in November.

[Ancesthntr]

I think that you replied to the wrong post...but I agree with you.

[Gritty]

After 40 or 50 years knowing about the threat they are just starting to figure this out?

[Wolfie]

WHy study something they don’t have the money or will to fix?

[rktman]

Some say it’s never too late. Or is it I’m late for my latte.

[GOPJ]

...Scott Aaronson, managing director for cyber and infrastructure security at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), stated in testimony that a consortium of U.S. electric companies is working with the Energy Department to study how to protect power grids from a nuclear blast-produced electromagnetic pulse attack or solar flares that could damage transformers and other electric components and shut down power for millions of Americans. “There are a lot of threats to the grid … from squirrels to nation states,”

Our side's running out of time... maybe Edison Electric should stop talking about the problem - and start solving it for their industry. Other American Industries need to do the same. Waiting for subsidies is a mistake...

[GOPJ]

... something HAS to be done about the nuke plants - from what I understand (and I may be wrong, and hope that I am), the power to circulate the cooling water is drawn from an external source - i.e. not from the plant itself - so that if that source is cut off, and the diesel generators run out of fuel, then there’s no cooling and the plant goes super-critical shortly thereafter...and we have 400 nukes in this country, 400 potential Fukashimas.

This is the kind of thing Trump would understand... I hope you're wrong on this... any idea how many hours diesel generators can keep water circulating after an external power loss?

[JimRed]

Shielding is effective and not too expensive- for new gear. But retrofitting existing systems would be very costly.

Better to start taking out any unidentified device orbiting over U.S. airspace with ASATs, and upgrade our missile defenses.

[bgill]

Just a few decades late. Noticing they’re only looking at the obvious problem and not actually doing something about it.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk

[Ancesthntr]

That depends entirely on the fuel supply available. I can’t imagine that any of these utilities keep more than a week’s worth - why would they, when no conceivable disaster other than an EMP would prevent the delivery of fuel for that long?