It’s official…secret report states the U.S. power grid is vulnerable.
Patriots like us have been saying for years that the U.S. electric power grid is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, but we weren’t always believed. Now, thanks to a newly declassified report from the National Research Council, everyone knows it’s true. Citing the grid’s old technology, lack of spare capacity and incapability of keeping pace with the increasing burden being placed upon it, the formerly secret report to the Department of Homeland Security states point-blank that a sophisticated physical assault against the grid could produce catastrophic results.
An attack could cause damage in excess of hundreds of billions of dollars and result in hundreds or thousands of deaths due to heat stress or extended exposure to extreme cold.
Check out this article “How Vulnerable is Our Power Grid?”
http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/11/16/how-vulnerable-is-our-power-grid/
This report paints a rather grim future for the U.S. if it doesn’t upgrade its electric power system soon. Of course, this is what patriots have been preaching for quite some time. But not everyone is on board with the solutions proposed by this report. For example, could a cyber attack from a remote location actually become MORE likely if advanced technologies are incorporated into the grid? In addition to the ordinary stress that the grid is under, it’s being used to move power between regions to support the needs of competitive markets for power generation. Should we keep electric power generation closer to where it is consumed so failures can be isolated?
I would be very interested to hear your opinions on this!
I’m listening to a great book
The Grid. By Gretchen Bakke. Good overview of the history of electricity, current grade situation and ideas on the importance of local sustainable interconnected grids.
Hope you received the “EMP” coffee cup and business cards I sent you Frank last week.
Development and use of thorium reactors and using them to replace aging uranium nuclear reactors and coal plants would be an excellent way to build capacity on our power grids. Thorium reactors are much safer, much simpler, much more economical than uranium reactors, can use 100% of the fuel -uranium reactors only get about 1% of the available energy in the uranium, don’t generate the highly radioactive, highly toxic waste that uranium reactors do, and don’t require expensive, time consuming enrichment as uranium does. Thorium is much more plentiful than uranium, and is in fact a waste byproduct of rare earths mining. The only reason uranium reactors are used today is the military wanted something they could build bombs with, uranium filled that need, and today’s power reactors are a spinoff of the bomb making process, Thorium is close to useless for weapons so got shoved aside. Now is the time to bring it back.
Our electrical grid is vulnerable in many ways. Last year “terrorists” broke into a power sub-station in south San Jose, CA. They destroyed a few large transformers that are in very short supply and take months to build. The attackers were in and out before authorities knew what happened. There are EMP, computer access, over-capacity, and other vulnerabilities. Our local and federal governments are too ingrained in forcing the population to conserve than to build for projected demand. Much of the slowing usage has been slowing economy (loss of industry especially manufacturing, and jobs). Meanwhile, the US is sitting on the largest available supply of natural gas in the world that is booming due to private land while the Federal government has cut the number of energy leases in half.
The major reason why electrical power is limited and costly is due to government. The insistence on “renewable” energy, the aversion to carbon fuels and nuclear power have resulted in extensive regulations driving up costs. Our economy is fueled by energy and knowledge and what better way to destroy it than to go after efficient energy production and our education system. The crowning glory is the “Global Warming” movement that demands capitalism to pay for failing dictator and socialist societies. Unfortunately, there is little capitalism left due to heavy regulation. Supply and Demand is being replaced by government control which ends up with the few dictating to the many. The few are above the law and the many learn to despise it.
For the Patriot, without an economical power storage system, solar is limited. It takes up a lot of space, limited power generation time, inefficient, unpredictable. Gas powered generators are noisy, costly to operate, need a constant resupply of fuel, and possibly banned in cities except for very short term. They give reliable generation while running. Wind powered only works if you got consistent wind. Very visible to jealous neighbors. Fuel cell. Fairly new (30 years) with potential. Costly, quiet, little or no pollution. Average life of a home fuel cell running on natural or propane gas is around 60,000 hours. Some are made for heat and electricity and can be plugged into the local electricity provider network to sell back power just like solar. Several California companies use fuel cells and claim substantial energy savings along with getting tax credits. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_fuel_cell
This caught my eye. Boeing is using Ford Ranger engines running on hydrogen to power drones that can stay aloft for a projected 10 days. This technology could be directly applied to power generation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Eye
I’ve been proactive on this problem for well over a year. I have on hand about a month or better of freeze dried emergency food and last January I purchased and had installed a 8-KW automatic generator hooked directly to my power panel. It runs on natural gas and will start and give me full power on my 100 amp power panel within seconds of a blackout or power outage of any kind. I’m elderly and use oxygen and I also live on the Mojave desert and need my air conditioning to be always available. I cannot wait for the political side to protect me I have to so it myself. .
I agree with the report. In fact on page 74 & 75 of my new book [Daniel’s Commentary of Bible Prophecy] I point out where the Bible speaks of electrical grid problems for this country in the book of Isaiah chapter 47 and verse 5.
How do we survive in the winter if the heat in our houses depends on electric service? It wouldn’t take too long for pipes to freeze and then we would freeze or have to depend on, God forbid, the government.
I love how much faith you’ve put in your younger generations.
I can single handly build an AR-15 i have a small understanding of circuit boards.
Im currently working on my own kit car in my back yard. I have never had a cell phone (No I’m Not Lying) I Also keep a SAS Survival guide on me 24/7.
It is also your legal right to build firearms but not distribute them. (Its not hard to make your own ammo) ,But none of this ever matters instead of letting your kid sit in the back of the house for 16 hours a day playing CoD literally throw a book at them. The parents and previous generations have nothing to blame but themselves. You were the adults that enabled us. Im 17 years old Im going to enlist in the CORPs the moment im done with highschool. Witch now due to the fact i have to have a highschool diploma to enlist when i just got my senior year thrown under a bus for absences and for U.S Grant High school OKC loosing my letter of recomendation.
I apologize for the progressively worse grammar its kind of a touchy subject.
My recommendation have a purpose blackout shit i havent heard of anyone going camping since 5th grade.
Now i just wait for one person to say how uninformed i am because i am underage i have scatterbrained thoughts and none of my points are accurate. FYI just remember before you try to bash me im the one who lived in the wilderness in chernobyl for 2 weeks straight 1 box of ammo and some MRES was all he let me pack. That and a gieger counter i almost walked towards the red zone im not saying i could survive it. Seriously though teach your kid how to survive not spend 4-5 hours a day throwing a ball around cause when civilization ends no ones gonna give a fuck about football.
Shane:
I applaud your post and the thoughts you have expressed! HALF the problem is awareness; most folks don’t have this – you DO. And it sounds like you are taking the kind of action within you resources that will help you get through a crisis. I wish you well in your endeavors and hope you will also explore God’s Word the Bible and help warn people of what is happening.
WOW YOU REALLY GIVE UP EASY . I’M 62 AND YOUR THE SAME AGE AS MY 2ND SON. HE’S IN HIS OWN LIL WORLD. DON’T BE SO NEGATIVE. IF THE SHTF WE CAN STILL PLAY BALL, OR SHOOT SOME HOOPS. LIVE EACH DAY LIKE ITS YOUR LAST.
To Ron Russo, your comment was informative and educating.However most of the things you mentioned would most likely be confiscated by both the authorities and hoodlums/gangs if an EMP hit.Did you know that there is a law that allows the government,state,local authorities to confiscate/take away any food stockpiles that you have at home in time of emergency to be rationed out as they see fit.Glad you are at peace! http://www.infowars.com/fed-interest-in-food-storage-facility-connected-to-fema-executive-order-10999/ . http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/executive-doomsday-order-obama-authorizes-gov-to-seize-farms-food-processing-plants-energy-resources-transportation-skilled-laborers-during-national-emergency_03182012 http://www.alipac.us/f19/obama%92s-executive-order-martial-law-confiscation-private-property-forced-labor-253249/ http://search.babylon.com/?q=WND+FOOD+CONFISCATION&affID=118735&tt=0313_1&babsrc=SP_ss&mntrId=bc973fc2000000000000701a040e17bf http://www.wnd.com
I have been saying for the last 20 years that technology is so advanced as we convenience ourselves with electronic gadgetry that we (especially young people) are rapidly losing touch with crude old survival techniques. The price and availability of gasoline and the threat of EMP or electric outages has no affect on bicycles, small sail boats, oil lamps, wood burning stoves, hand pumped water wells, outhouses, fishing rods, sling shots, bow and arrow, hand tools, caned goods, dry packaged goods. camping gear, hand held water filter purifiers, book knowledge on edible vegetation in the wild, a net, rope, tape, etc… Sure solar panels, wind turbines, a crank type radio and light devices and batteries makes it much better, but young America can’t do without a cell phone for 24 hours. It was proven recently in an experiment. Oh, don’t forget a face mask for possible chemical or germ warfare. As for me I don’t have all the above mentioned, but I am working on it. As for now I live a day at a time enjoying life, at peace with my neighbors and putting my faith and trust in God.
Sounds like you are on the right track. People are NOT taught anymore how to be self reliant. I applaud your insight and wish I had neighbors like yourself – rather than the self-centered, clueless drones that live around me!
Just a thought…………if Obama is ordering ammo purchases, the money to effect the purchases is being borrowed………………….
Absolutely! I have the info to start making own panels and turret(s) from patriot but fear am running out of time. Seed vaults shipped today. WE all need to stick together and get n touch for such occasion(s)
Obama Has finally gone and did it again…Lies Lies Lies…Turning into a dictator.
Recently on fox and Local Media…are report came out HLS Bought out most of our ammo supplies, ammo manufactures are 2 years with backorder’s.
Ask Yourself this, Why would HLS buy out Walmart’s and other ammo suppliers small cal. ammo
(22 Shells, Shot Gun Shells) for enough to support war for 20 years.
I think Obama wants to punch gun owners in the balls, and punish us for owning guns.
After all he did say once we as American’s don’t need guns…
Maybe Obama and our government is setting up with a militia they maybe ready for a revolutionary war…but using 22 cal. and other lower calibre shells…Our Militarty never uses 22 cal. for target practice or fighting a war…
So you think just make your own ammo…HLS has also bought good 90 percent of the primers and shell casings…!
Someone has to stop this nonsense, someone has to question why HLS spent 1.6 billion worth of ammo and still buying the manufactures stock piles out . is HLS stock piling this for what…
Hey I thought we have a national debt. and spending cuts were made to get the national debt down…?
Just more Nazism,Soclialism on its way to control the masses…forget out our constitution, 2nd ammendemet rights
One way to avoid the vulnerability of the grid is to not have a grid. Have local power generation. Decide what you want to plan for: total collapse of civilization? Then the only thing you can stockpile is knowledge. But knowledge of how to make electrical power is not going to be useful unless you also know how to mine copper and make it into wire. You also need knowledge of how to mine iron ore and turn it into magnetic materials. If you think of all the things that go into electrical technology, you will realize that our civilization is very, very fragile.
For a two day power outage, your car can become a small power plant. Use a 1 kW inverter and extension cord. Be sure that your car is running, and limit power to essential uses, like keeping the refrigerator cold. I buy catholic candles whenever they are under $1. You can’t have too many. Besides light, the wax is good for food preservation and the glass part is good for iced tea. May the Saints intercede for you!
Or you can reload catholic candles if civilization collapse but you have a large supply of paraffin or olive oil. I make wicks out of a Universal Construction Module. These are available for free at Starbucks, where they are used to stir coffee. slice one down to a width of 1 mm, and smash it to break the fibers apart; makes a great candle or lamp wick. You will need some trial and error to get the width just right, but wooden wicks really work. And if civilization collapses, you can get wood from a tree (if the asteroid flash has not burned all of them).
Of course, if the grid does collapse, important government agencies like the IRS and the Traffic court will have backup power and redundant computer systems, so that the revenue will continue to flow.
I’ve actually DONE the car-power inverter deal, but be aware that will NOT supply a normal refrigerator’s power demands! You MIGHT be able to do it a short time with one of those little 1 or 2 cubic foot “bar” refrigerators.
You can get 12 volt coolers at walmart for $100, they use less energy than a light bulb and work. hook it up to your solar panel and shred a deer, yum yum, veni-tacos.
One of the comments mentioned the book ‘One Second After’. If you can find one, get it and read it. Yes its fiction but it points out a lot of every day things needed to get by on, like toilet paper, tooth paste and prescription medicines. Be sure to read the afterwards footnotes, it will make you wonder just how fictitious this story is.
Hi Frank,
I ran across your video this morning and watched the whole thing. I agree with you about the need to de-couple our homes from the grid too, for many if not all of the reasons you cited. Hurricane Sandy motivated me to design a system for my home from scratch, assembling the finest components, all made in the USA. I got a stand by generator in 2004, certain that my location in Florida was at risk of power failures from all the lightning strikes and wind storms alone.
This climate change thing is happening now. History is replete with civilizations lost due to cllimate change, volcanos, drought, famine, floods, you name it and mother nature has been throwing at us since the start. The current crises is in part our own damn fault and there is probably very little we can do about except adjust. And put in solar power systems, big time.
My system is state -of-the-art, thats what I do, I dont care about the cost, I want the best. My research verifies what you say about the knuckleheads currently selling solar power, they were prepared to rip me off selling me more than I needed, at a price that was not justifiable. That was no help at all, but it stirred my audiophile sensabilities, I retired last year after a long career as a technology leader in the AV sector, both consumer and professional channels.
Promote the idea of distributed generation – more local generation: Your city, your street, your home with solar, wind, bio-fuels, thermal wells, hydro from streams – along with energy efficiency devices such as cogeneration.
We can help on all subject water,wind power,solar power,food production LED Light, and no money up front you pay out of saving and have an income on going check our Website
Does anyone have a plan for. completely EMP. proofing a two car garage ? I have some ideas but need some help.
Hi Frank,
I’m well aware of the possibility of an EMP attack. The book One Second After was a very good fictional account of what such an attack could do.
When I was 15 and again when I was 21, I had visions of the collapse of the electrical grid. I have been concerned most of my life that we are way too dependent on our technology and the “system,” which is why I’ve been interested in preparedness.
I’ve taken this mostly from the viewpoint of what to do with no modern medicine. It’s why I became an herbalist.
Thanks for helping to make people aware of this very real threat to our society.
Steven
The article was a little scary, I think of things like that but my wife and all of our friends think I’m a little wierd. Hopefully this year I’ll be able to install solor panels on our roof and if I can get the city, live in city limits but it is a small city, to give me a permit hopefully will be able to install a wind generator. Like the read.