The Texas power system failure is a warning sign

In February, an unusual winter storm left millions of Texans without electric power or water in subzero temperatures for nearly five days. Oklahoma and other neighboring states only had minor disruptions. Why? Texas is on its own electrical grid, separate from the rest of the country, unlike other states, so it can’t get power from other states in an emergency. Texas hasn’t upgraded its electrical infrastructure since its last big failure ten years ago, but most of the U.S. power infrastructure has aged beyond its “use by” date.

More:

“Texas’s power disaster is a warning sign for the US,” Madeline Marshall, Vox

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National Power Grid Attacked by Terrorist

“A single monkey caused a nationwide blackout in Kenya after falling on to a crucial piece of equipment.

The monkey fell on a transformer at the Gitaru hydroelectric power station last Tuesday, electricity provider KenGen [Kenya Electricity Generating Company] said in a statement.

The transformer then tripped, resulting in the loss of 180 megawatts of power and triggering a blackout across Kenya.

Power was restored almost four hours later and the monkey survived its adventure, KenGen said.”

— “Kenya nationwide blackout caused by rogue monkey,” BBC News

Many of Kenya’s businesses had already installed backup generators due to previous monkeys.

More:

“Monkey stumbles into hydroelectric power plant and triggers 4-hour blackout across Kenya,” Ben Guarino, Washington Post

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Image (“Monkey Holding High-Tension Lines, after Ohara Koson”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Nuts! The Threat to Our Nation’s Infrastructure

For years now we’ve told you, and told you, and told you yet again about a persistent threat to America’s infrastructure. Now that the New York Times has caught up, maybe now you’ll listen.

This year there have been stealth attacks on the electric power grid in Virginia, Illinois, Delaware, Virginia, Oregon, Ohio, Maryland, and dozens of places across the country, and they continue. These attacks on electrical substations are predictable and avoidable, yet nothing is done to avert them. Perhaps if we claim they are caused by Iranian hackers we can get relief.

More:

“Squirrel Power!” Jon Mooallem, New York Times

“Squirrels and electricity: A shocking problem,” Bruce Kennedy, MSN Money

“How squirrels are screwing with America’s power grid,” Katie Drummond, The Verge

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Terrorists Attack U.S. Power Grid

The assault is on. Raiders from the extremist Sciurus carolinensis group are attacking the vulnerable U.S. electric power infrastructure, paralyzing the nation and plunging Americans into darkness. In Virginia. In New Jersey. In Nebraska and Washington State. 

Mass evacuation in Trenton. Terror in Tennessee. Services severed in North Carolina. Arson in Idaho.

Can nothing be done? Is no one safe? When will it end?

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Terrorists Strike U.S. Infrastructure

Despite billions spent on homeland security, the Obama Administration is Bush-league when it comes to defending America’s vital power grid from home-grown terrorists. Known to experts as Sciurus carolinensis, these sly, suicidal saboteurs infiltrate transformer stations at will, denying thousands of loyal Americans their God-given right to power up their Chinese-made flat-screen TVs.

October 24, 2009, Fulton, MO: “”Squirrel causes power failure in Fulton on Saturday,” Fulton Sun. 

October 19, 2009, Ogdensburg, NY: “Squirrel causes 8-hour outage,” Watertown Daily Times.

October 10, 2009, Chico CA: “Squirrel causes power outage,” Chico Enterprise-Record.

October 7, 2009, Anderson IN: “Squirrel blamed for power outage to southwest Anderson,”  The Herald Bulletin.

October 7, 2009, Fredericksburg VA: “Squirrel Sparks Power Outage,” University of Mary Washington Bullet.

October 2, 2009, Glendale, CA: “Squirrel causes power outage,” Glendale News Press

September 30, 2009, Pekin, IL:  “Squirrel causes power outage,” Pekin Daily Times.