It was not that long ago, barely pre-internet, that the Eco-Nuts were passing around plans and maps to take down major transmission towers.
Because, “Evil hydropower dams”.
Now the dams are being destroyed but those plans and maps are still around.
Less than a mile from my house are DC power transmission lines that start in OR? and end all the way down in So. Cal.
That is a lot of rural unguarded infrastructure and it is only one of many.
We are very vulnerable to infrastructure terrorism and there is really very little that can be done about it other than to cease importing/manufacturing the types that would consider such mayhem as acceptable or even noble.
It’s not just Twit! that needs an overhaul, the entire education system is also rigged to promote communism and extremism.
I saw a media outlet that conveniently revealed that the nation’s grid could be taken down by attacking 9 substations. I hope that they’re hardened. I suspect that most of the PNW incidents are random. Thieves, bored hunters.... Power companies need to take a page out of the logging industry’s book and hire “caretakers” to park a trailer or RV near vulnerable logging equipment. Plenty of retired folks enjoy doing that kind of thing. Set ip in the woods, probably paid a nominal amount. A deterrent to most criminal activity.
“One big advantage to HVDC is the efficiency of power transmission over long distances,” George Culbertson, vice president of power delivery markets for HDR, told POWER. “If the transmission line route is longer than about 300 miles, DC is a better option because AC lines have more line losses than DC for bulk power transfer.”I had to look this up. Of course that would prevent stealing power with induction coils placed beneath the transmission lines too I guess.