Power grid security

Column: The danger that could devastate our electrical grid

A devastating disruption of the kind envisioned by Gen. Schwarzkopf could happen even without an attack. A solar storm could generate the same effect. And that’s not just a theory — it’s happened before. In 1989, “a vast cloud of…plasma,” ejected from the sun, caused a 12-hour blackout in Quebec. An even more extreme space weather event — expected to occur approximately every 150 years — could result in worse blackouts and cost the U.S. as much as $2.6 trillion.

So what can we do about this risk? To begin, we need to understand it and raise awareness. James Woolsey, the former director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, has highlighted the existential risks to America’s critical infrastructure. Scientists,politicians and investors alike have joined Mr. Woolsey in working to bring attention to the issue.