Free Republic

Franks said that one strategic strike could create blackouts nationwide. And the consequences of this could be a field day for hackers, cripple our military defense system, and that’s not even mentioning what life would be like for normal Americans if they had no power. The risk of an EMP attack has been around since the Cold War but according to Franks, “we’re a thousand times more vulnerable than we were even 50 years ago.”

"At a minimum the electrical grid has to be protected so that it can quickly be bought back on line after an attack. The large transformers, without which the grid cannot function, can be protected at a very reasonable cost. But practically nothing has been done. If those transformers are destroyed -- melted -- it would take years to replace them and most of the transformer manufacturing capacity is in foreign countries. The oil refineries, the natural gas distribution system, coalmines, water systems and sewage systems must all be hardened against EMP." "....we are spending vast sums, potentially trillions, to...

HOUSTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Texas utility regulators on Thursday awarded nine companies rights to build $5 billion in new electric transmission lines to move power from windy areas to big cities like Dallas and San Antonio, a move aimed at doubling renewable energy supplies. Dallas-based Oncor, the state's largest power company, American Electric Power's (AEP.N) joint venture Electric Transmission Texas and Sharyland Utilities, along with affiliates of FPL Group (FPL.N), Spanish-based Isolux Corsan and LS Power Group were awarded major portions of the grid expansion, which will add as much as 2,900 miles of new power lines. "We have...